Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A580

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH2 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the FH2 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FH2 was announced 4 months before the A580 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the FH2 matches up against the A580 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic FH2 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH2 offers outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A580 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the FH2 vs the A580.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FH2 and A580 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH2 and A580.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH2 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A580 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively.