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Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 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
  • Launched July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS8
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS7 (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS7 was manufactured very close to the W550 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the ZS7 grades against the W550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Sony W550

 ZS7 W550 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Panasonic ZS7

 W550 ZS7 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS7 and Sony W550

 ZS7 W550 
ReleasedJuly 2011July 2011Same age
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS7 offers outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the ZS7 compared to the W550.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS7 and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The image below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS7 and W550.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Sony W550 to show extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Portrait photography factors
Sony W550 Portrait photography factors
21
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Street photography details
Sony W550 Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (218g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competitors in class (218 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography information
Sony W550 Landscape photography information
38
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
quite wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging info
Sony W550 Vlogging info
30
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (218 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
29
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS7 and Sony W550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ10 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2011-07-19 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 gr (0.48 lb) 110 gr (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Price at launch $350 $119