Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A450

Here, we will be looking at the Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A450, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the A450 (14MP) is pretty close but the ZS20 (1/2.3") and A450 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The ZS20 was released 2 years after the A450 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the ZS20 scores vs the A450 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A450. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS20 Gallery and Sony A450 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS20 comes with external dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Sony A450 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A450 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS20 vs the A450.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and A450 is 92 and 65 respectively.

Sometimes, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS20 and A450.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The ZS20 offers the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field tougher. The younger ZS20 provides an edge in sensor tech.