Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500
92 Imaging
35 Features
37 Overall
35
63 Imaging
51 Features
52 Overall
51
Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
- Released June 2012
- Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
- Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
- 12MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Introduced August 2009
- Refreshed by Sony A560
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 Overview
Below, we are evaluating the Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS15 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched but the ZS15 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe ZS15 was manufactured 2 years after the A500 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZS15 scores vs the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS15 Gallery & Sony A500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Sony A500
| ZS15 | A500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | June 2012 | August 2009 | More modern by 35 months | |
| Display resolution | 460k | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic ZS15
| A500 | ZS15 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | Dial exact focusing | |||
| Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony A500
| ZS15 | A500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display dimension | 3" | 3" | Identical display sizing | |
| Selfie screen | Neither features selfie screen | |||
| Touch display | Neither features Touch display |
Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison
If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS15 enjoys outside measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).
Take a look at the Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS15 and the A500.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.
Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison
Often, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The image below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS15 and A500.
Plainly, each of the cameras posses the exact same MP but different sensor sizes. The ZS15 uses the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult. The more modern ZS15 should have a benefit in sensor technology.
Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A500 Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Panasonic | Sony |
| Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 |
| Otherwise known as | Lumix DMC-TZ25 | - |
| Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Released | 2012-06-29 | 2009-08-27 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | - | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12MP | 12MP |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4272 x 2848 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
| Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
| RAW support | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| AF single | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 23 | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Lens focal range | 24-384mm (16.0x) | - |
| Largest aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
| Macro focus distance | 3cm | - |
| Number of lenses | - | 143 |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
| Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of display | 460 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch capability | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous shooting rate | 2.0 frames/s | 5.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash range | 6.40 m | 12.00 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash synchronize | - | 1/160s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | - |
| Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
| Video file format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | - |
| Mic support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 208 gr (0.46 lbs) | 630 gr (1.39 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | not tested | 64 |
| DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 21.8 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.6 |
| DXO Low light score | not tested | 772 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 260 photographs | 520 photographs |
| Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | NP-FM500H |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Card slots | 1 | 1 |
| Price at launch | $279 | $638 |