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Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
55
Features
82
Overall
65

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS8
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the ZS7 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the ZS7 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS7 was manufactured 2 months after the A580 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZS7 grades against the A580 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Sony A580

 ZS7 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic ZS7

 A580 ZS7 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS7 and Sony A580

 ZS7 A580 
RevealedJuly 2011May 2011Same generation
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS7 enjoys exterior dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the ZS7 versus the A580.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS7 and A580 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The image underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS7 and A580.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS7 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A580 will render more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots much more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Portrait photography advice
Sony A580 Portrait photography advice
21
manual focus not available
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Street photography camera
Sony A580 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
75
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Sports photography information
Sony A580 Sports photography information
27
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
77
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
better than average battery (1,050 shots)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography advice
Sony A580 Landscape photography advice
38
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (1,050 shots)
two card slots
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging factors
Sony A580 Vlogging factors
30
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS7 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ10 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-19 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lb) 599 grams (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Two
Retail price $350 $848