Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A55

Lets examine more closely at the Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH10 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very well matched but the FH10 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FH10 was launched 2 years after the A55 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the FH10 scores against the A55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10 and Sony SLT-A55. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FH10 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH10 provides outside dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) and the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH10 vs Sony A55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FH10 compared to the A55.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH10 and A55 is 97 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The image underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH10 and A55.

To sum up, each of these cameras have got the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The FH10 has the tinier sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult. The newer FH10 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.