Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A550

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS5 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the ZS5 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The ZS5 was brought out 7 months later than the A550 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZS5 grades vs the A550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZS5 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS5 features physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony A550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS5 against the A550.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS5 and A550 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Typically, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking specs. The visual here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS5 and A550.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS5 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A550 will give more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The younger ZS5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.