Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony A550

Here is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS15 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the ZS15 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS15 was manufactured 2 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ZS15 scores against the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS15 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS15 has external measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony A550 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the ZS15 and the A550.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and A550 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through specs. The photograph here will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS15 and A550.

All in all, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS15 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A550 will result in more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent ZS15 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.