Panasonic FH1 vs Sony A380

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic FH1 and Sony A380, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH1 (12MP) and the A380 (14MP) is very close but the FH1 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The FH1 was unveiled 5 months after the A380 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the FH1 matches up versus the A380 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The full galleries are available at Panasonic FH1 Gallery and Sony A380 Gallery.

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH1 has got outside dimensions 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 A380 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH1 and Sony A380 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the FH1 compared to the A380.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH1 and A380 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The image underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH1 and A380.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FH1 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A380 will result in more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively.