Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A500

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic FH2 and Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH2 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched but the FH2 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The FH2 was introduced 17 months later than the A500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FH2 grades versus the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FH2 Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH2 has outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FH2 and Sony A500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FH2 compared to the A500.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH2 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at specifications. The graphic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FH2 and A500.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FH2 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FH2 will give more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern FH2 should have an advantage in sensor technology.