Sony A77 vs Panasonic ZS100

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Sony A77 vs Panasonic ZS100

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APS-C 369.7mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A77 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A77.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
25.00mm - 250.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic ZS100 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic ZS100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the ZS100.
Compare Panasonic ZS100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic ZS100 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A77 II
Compare A77 vs A77 II

Succeeded by the Panasonic ZS200
Compare ZS100 vs ZS200

Compare SONY A77 II vs PANASONIC ZS200

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Differences

Sony A77 advantages over Panasonic ZS100

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.95 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 2.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A77 test data on DxO Mark ZS100 test data on DxO Mark

801 vs 559 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

530 vs 300 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More viewfinder magnification
0.73x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.3 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
11.6 fps vs 9.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.6 fps vs 9.5 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Panasonic ZS100 advantages over Sony A77

Less expensive
$398* vs $1899
Save money for lenses or accessories
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Thinner
44 mm vs 80 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
9 years vs 13 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 17 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A77 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read ZS100 User Reviews

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Kit with 16-50mm Lens
Kit with 18-135mm Lens

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Buy the Panasonic ZS100

Panasonic ZS100 (Black)

Panasonic ZS100 (Black)
Panasonic ZS100 (Silver)

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Review Excerpt

Very fast top frame rate; full-time phase-detect autofocus; Full 60p HD video; Excellent kit lens; Very good high-resolution sensor.
Heavy; EVF appears dim when used in bright light; AF tracking in Movie mode was unreliable in our testing.
Read our Sony A77 Full Review

Compact camera body; versatile 10x zoom lens; relatively good high ISO performance; fast autofocus; many good 4K video and photo features.
Soft lens at longer focal lengths; no tilting display; small electronic viewfinder; slippery finish on the camera body.
Read our Panasonic ZS100 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Sony A77

Canon 7D

$1899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$1499
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 vs Canon 7D

Panasonic ZS100

Canon 7D

$498
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$1499
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS100 vs Canon 7D

Compared to Canon 70D

Sony A77

Canon 70D

$1899
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1149
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 vs Canon 70D

Panasonic ZS100

Canon 70D

$498
1 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1149
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic ZS100 vs Canon 70D

Compared to Sony A77 II

Sony A77

Sony A77 II

$1899
APS-C

Built-in GPS

$1198
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

Compare Sony A77 vs Sony A77 II

Panasonic ZS100

Sony A77 II

$498
1 inch

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony A77 II

Compared to Sony RX100 VI

Sony A77

Sony RX100 VI

$1899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$949
1 inch

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A77 vs Sony RX100 VI

Panasonic ZS100

Sony RX100 VI

$498
1 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

$949
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 VI

Compared to Sony RX100 VII

Sony A77

Sony RX100 VII

$1899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$1298
1 inch

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A77 vs Sony RX100 VII

Panasonic ZS100

Sony RX100 VII

$498
1 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

$1298
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 VII

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