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Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Panasonic FH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 163g - 98 x 55 x 23mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS10
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump 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 FH1 vs Sony A9 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic FH1 versus Sony A9, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the FH1 (12MP) and A9 (24MP) and the FH1 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The FH1 was brought out 8 years before the A9 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FH1 scores versus the A9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH1 over the Sony A9

 FH1 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Panasonic FH1

 A9 FH1 
LaunchedApril 2017January 2010More modern by 88 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH1 and Sony A9

 FH1 A9 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH1 features outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FH1 versus Sony A9 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the FH1 and the A9.

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FH1 and A9 is 95 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH1 and A9.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FH1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A9 will provide greater detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged FH1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH1 Portrait photography features
Sony A9 Portrait photography features
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
84
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH1 Street photography information
Sony A9 Street photography information
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
79
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
provides touch to focus
environment sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH1 Sports photography information
Sony A9 Sports photography information
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (650 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH1
Travel photography with Sony A9
58
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
74
better than average battery pack (650 per charge)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
resolution is good (24MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH1 Landscape photography information
Sony A9 Landscape photography information
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
86
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (650 CIPA)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH1 Vlogging details
Sony A9 Vlogging details
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
37
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH1 and Sony A9
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 Sony Alpha A9
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS10 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2010-01-06 2017-04-19
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 693
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 163 gr (0.36 lbs) 673 gr (1.48 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 shots
Style of battery - 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 card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots One Two
Retail pricing $150 $4,498