Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5N

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony NEX-5N, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is relatively well matched but the ZS20 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The ZS20 was announced 7 months later than the NEX-5N which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZS20 scores against the NEX-5N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS20 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS20 has physical measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the ZS20 compared to the NEX-5N.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS20 and NEX-5N is 92 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specifications. The graphic below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS20 and NEX-5N.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS20 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will give you more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more recent ZS20 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.