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Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500

Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Panasonic FH10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 18mm
  • Released January 2013
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic FH10 and Sony A500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the FH10 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the FH10 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH10 was introduced 3 years after the A500 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the FH10 grades vs the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH10 over the Sony A500

 FH10 A500 
LaunchedJanuary 2013August 2009More modern by 41 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic FH10

 A500 FH10 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FH10 and Sony A500

 FH10 A500 
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH10 has outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH10 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the FH10 and the A500.

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FH10 and A500 is 97 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The pic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FH10 and A500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH10 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic FH10 will provide extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent FH10 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH10 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
30
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH10 Street photography information
Sony A500 Street photography information
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (103 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH10 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH10
Travel photography with Sony A500
69
lighter than average (103g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
43
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH10 Landscape photography advice
Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
39
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH10 Vlogging factors
Sony A500 Vlogging factors
31
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (103g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH10 and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 103g (0.23 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 18mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 520 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $110 $638