Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A230

Following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic FH1 versus Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH1 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is very well matched but the FH1 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The FH1 was unveiled 8 months after the A230 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FH1 matches up vs the A230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FH1 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH1 provides outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH1 versus Sony A230 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the FH1 versus the A230.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FH1 and A230 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The image below might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH1 and A230.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FH1 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic FH1 will give you extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher FH1 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.