Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A230

Following is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony A230, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS5 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is relatively comparable but the ZS5 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS5 was released 14 months after the A230 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the ZS5 scores against the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS5 Gallery & Sony A230 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS5 features physical measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony A230 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS5 versus the A230.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and A230 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by going through specs. The image here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS5 and A230.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS5 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic ZS5 will produce more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger ZS5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.