Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W550

Let's look closer at the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS15 (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS15 was introduced 12 months after the W550 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the ZS15 matches up vs the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS15 Gallery and Sony W550 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS15 comes with exterior measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony W550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS15 compared to the W550.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS15 and W550 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The picture here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS15 and W550.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony W550 to render extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern ZS15 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.