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Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390

Portability
91
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic ZS10 versus Sony A390, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS10 (14MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the ZS10 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS10 was brought out 7 months after the A390 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the ZS10 grades against the A390 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS10 over the Sony A390

 ZS10 A390 
LaunchedJanuary 2011July 2010Newer by 7 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Panasonic ZS10

 A390 ZS10 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic ZS10 and Sony A390

 ZS10 A390 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS10 enjoys physical dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS10 versus Sony A390 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the ZS10 compared to the A390.

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ZS10 and A390 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at specs. The picture below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS10 and A390.

All in all, each of these cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The ZS10 contains the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow DOF trickier. The newer ZS10 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS10
Portrait photography with Sony A390
30
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Street photography factors
Sony A390 Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (219 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
47
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Travel photography advice
Sony A390 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than competition in class (219 grams)
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery (260 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (230 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A390 Landscape photography highlights
42
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery (260 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (219g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic ZS10 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS10 and Sony A390
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-01-25 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 219 grams (0.48 lb) 549 grams (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 230 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $350 $500