Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A65

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A65, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and A65 (24MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and A65 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS5 was brought out 17 months earlier than the A65 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A65 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the ZS5 matches up against the A65 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 and Sony SLT-A65. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZS5 Gallery and Sony A65 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS5 offers outer measurements 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 A65 has specifications of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony A65 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS5 against the A65.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and A65 is 92 and 64 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to see the difference between sensor measurements merely by going over technical specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS5 and A65.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS5 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A65 will deliver greater detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older ZS5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.