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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Replacement is Sony a5100
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic ZS15 versus Sony a5000, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and a5000 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS15 was launched 18 months before the a5000 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS15 matches up vs the a5000 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Sony a5000

 ZS15 a5000 

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Panasonic ZS15

 a5000 ZS15 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014June 2012Newer by 18 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony a5000

 ZS15 a5000 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS15 has got external dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony a5000 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS15 versus Sony a5000 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS15 compared to the a5000.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ZS15 and a5000 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The pic below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS15 and a5000.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS15 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony a5000 will show extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS15 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
Sony a5000 Portrait photography advice
21
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
has manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
Sony a5000 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
78
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
Sony a5000 Sports photography details
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
60
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (420 per charge)
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competition in class (208g)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery life (260 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
78
better than average battery (420 per charge)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
Landscape photography with Sony a5000
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery life (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (420 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5000 as a Vlogging camera
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
32
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic port
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Sony a5000
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Sony Alpha a5000
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-06-29 2014-01-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 gr (0.46 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1089
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 420 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $279 $448