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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS60
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Sony A380
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Panasonic ZS50 versus Sony A390, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS50 (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the ZS50 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS50 was manufactured 4 years later than the A390 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the ZS50 scores versus the A390 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Sony A390

 ZS50 A390 
IntroducedJanuary 2015July 2010More recent by 55 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Panasonic ZS50

 A390 ZS50 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Sony A390

 ZS50 A390 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS50 has got external 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) and the Sony A390 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS50 versus Sony A390 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS50 and the A390.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and A390 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The graphic below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS50 and A390.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS50 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A390 will give you greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern ZS50 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A390 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography advice
Sony A390 Street photography advice
68
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (243g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
76
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
43
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS50
Travel photography with Sony A390
66
lighter than competition in class (243g)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
53
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography factors
Sony A390 Landscape photography factors
51
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS50
Vlogging with Sony A390
34
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
9
no video
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Sony A390
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 243 grams (0.54 lb) 549 grams (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 44 66
DXO Color Depth rating 20.0 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 11.5
DXO Low light rating 138 607
Other
Battery life 300 images 230 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $350 $500