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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Here is a extended analysis of the Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the ZS20 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS20 was announced 5 years earlier than the A6500 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the ZS20 matches up versus the A6500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony A6500

 ZS20 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic ZS20

 A6500 ZS20 
ReleasedOctober 2016April 2012Fresher by 54 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony A6500

 ZS20 A6500 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS20 features external dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the ZS20 and the A6500.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS20 and A6500 is 92 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading through specifications. The visual here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS20 and A6500.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS20 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A6500 will resolve extra detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older ZS20 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography details
Sony A6500 Portrait photography details
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
Street photography with Sony A6500
65
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography highlights
Sony A6500 Sports photography highlights
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
76
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
low battery power (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery life (260 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
74
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
features touch to focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (350 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography details
Sony A6500 Landscape photography details
42
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery life (260 per charge)
no Timelapse function
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
low battery power (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging details
Sony A6500 Vlogging details
34
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
39
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Alpha a6500
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-26 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 425
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 6.00 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 (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 grams (0.45 pounds) 453 grams (1.00 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 260 shots 350 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $349 $1,298