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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Revealed July 2006
  • Replaced the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Renewed by Sony A550
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS5 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS5 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS5 was manufactured 3 years after the A100 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the ZS5 scores versus the A100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Sony A100

 ZS5 A100 
RevealedJune 2010July 2006More modern by 48 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Panasonic ZS5

 A100 ZS5 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony A100

 ZS5 A100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS5 provides outer measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony A100 has proportions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS5 vs the A100.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and A100 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The image below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS5 and A100.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS5 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic ZS5 will produce more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher ZS5 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
Portrait photography with Sony A100
27
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
53
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A100 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography advice
Sony A100 Sports photography advice
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
Sony A100 Travel photography factors
63
lighter than competition (214 grams)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
45
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A100 as a Landscape photography camera
33
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
53
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
MP count low (10MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A100 as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (214g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Sony A100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-06-16 2006-07-31
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.5"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1300s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 gr (0.47 pounds) 638 gr (1.41 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 476
Other
Battery model - NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots One One
Launch price $300 $1,000