Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A55

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A55, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZR3 was manufactured 7 months before the A55 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the ZR3 scores vs the A55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 and Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZR3 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZR3 comes with physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A55 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZR3 vs the A55.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and A55 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing specifications. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and A55.

Plainly, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZR3 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A55 will provide more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older ZR3 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.