Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony A6500

Below is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony A6500, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS100 (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is fairly well matched but the ZS100 (1") and A6500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The ZS100 was revealed 9 months prior to the A6500 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the ZS100 matches up versus the A6500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 & Sony Alpha a6500. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS100 Gallery & Sony A6500 Gallery.

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS100 has got exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony A6500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS100 versus the A6500.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS100 and A6500 is 87 and 81 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS100 and A6500.

As you can tell, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS100 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A6500 will give you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older ZS100 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.