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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS60
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Renewed by Sony A9 II
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and A9 (24MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) use different sensor size.

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The ZS50 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the A9 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZS50 scores versus the A9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Sony A9

 ZS50 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Panasonic ZS50

 A9 ZS50 
LaunchedApril 2017January 2015More recent by 27 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k1040kClearer display (+400k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Sony A9

 ZS50 A9 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS50 comes with exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the ZS50 compared to the A9.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS50 and A9 is 90 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS50 and A9.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS50 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A9 will show greater detail due to its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The older ZS50 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A9 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
84
manual focus
MP count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS50
Street photography with Sony A9
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (243g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
79
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
has touch to focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography details
Sony A9 Sports photography details
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery power (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography highlights
Sony A9 Travel photography highlights
66
lighter than others in class (243g)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
74
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
has touch to focus
MP count decent (24MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
51
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
86
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A9 as a Vlogging camera
34
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (243 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
37
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Sony A9
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Sony Alpha A9
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-01-06 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 693
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dots 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 243 gr (0.54 lb) 673 gr (1.48 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 44 92
DXO Color Depth score 20.0 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 13.3
DXO Low light score 138 3517
Other
Battery life 300 shots 650 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 Two
Launch pricing $350 $4,498