Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230
93 Imaging
39 Features
43 Overall
40


69 Imaging
50 Features
40 Overall
46
Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
- 193g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
- Announced January 2013
- Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ35
- Old Model is Panasonic ZS20
- Updated by Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)

Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Overview
On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic ZS25 and Sony A230, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the ZS25 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the ZS25 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

The ZS25 was revealed 3 years later than the A230 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS25 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the ZS25 matches up against the A230 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS25 Gallery & Sony A230 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS25 over the Sony A230
ZS25 | A230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2013 | ![]() | May 2009 | More recent by 45 months |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Panasonic ZS25
A230 | ZS25 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focus |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS25 and Sony A230
ZS25 | A230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Missing Touch screen |
Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison
If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS25 comes with exterior dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).
Take a look at the Panasonic ZS25 and Sony A230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the ZS25 versus the A230.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS25 and A230 is 93 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, its difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The visual below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS25 and A230.
Plainly, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS25 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS25 will deliver more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The younger ZS25 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS25 vs Sony A230 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 |
Also Known as | Lumix DMC-TZ35 | - |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2013-01-07 | 2009-05-18 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4896 x 3672 | 3872 x 2592 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 23 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 24-480mm (20.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/3.3-6.4 | - |
Macro focus distance | 3cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 460 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/1200 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 10.0fps | 3.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 6.40 m | 10.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | - |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 193 gr (0.43 lbs) | 490 gr (1.08 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") | 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 63 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 22.3 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 531 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 260 shots | 230 shots |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Price at release | $300 | $569 |