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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 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
  • Announced June 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS20
Sony W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and W650 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS15 was manufactured 6 months after the W650 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the ZS15 grades vs the W650 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Sony W650

 ZS15 W650 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Panasonic ZS15

 W650 ZS15 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony W650

 ZS15 W650 
LaunchedJune 2012January 2012Similar age
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS15 has outside measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Sony W650 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS15 against the W650.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ZS15 and W650 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS15 and W650.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony W650 to deliver extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography details
Sony W650 Portrait photography details
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
Sony W650 Street photography info
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (124g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W650 as a Sports photography camera
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography advice
Sony W650 Travel photography advice
61
lighter than competition (208 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (260 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competition (124g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W650 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging info
Sony W650 Vlogging info
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (208g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
33
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competition (124g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Sony W650
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-06-29 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 3.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 gr (0.46 lb) 124 gr (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 220 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $279 $140