Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A550

On this page, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FH10 and Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH10 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty similar but the FH10 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FH10 was introduced 3 years later than the A550 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the FH10 matches up versus the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FH10 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH10 enjoys exterior measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH10 and Sony A550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the FH10 vs the A550.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FH10 and A550 is 97 and 63 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH10 and A550.

As you can see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH10 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic FH10 will offer extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger FH10 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.