Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony A99

In this article, we are reviewing the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony A99, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and A99 (24MP) and the ZS20 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor size.

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The ZS20 was unveiled 7 months prior to the A99 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ZS20 scores versus the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 and Sony SLT-A99. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS20 Gallery and Sony A99 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS20 provides outer dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony A99 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS20 against the A99.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and A99 is 92 and 57 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing specs. The photograph here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and A99.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS20 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A99 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older ZS20 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.