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Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
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Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the FH2 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FH2 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) use different sensor dimensions.

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The FH2 was unveiled 9 months later than the A850 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the FH2 grades versus the A850 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Sony A850

 FH2 A850 
RevealedJanuary 2011April 2010More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FH2

 A850 FH2 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH2 and Sony A850

 FH2 A850 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH2 enjoys exterior measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FH2 vs the A850.

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FH2 and A850 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FH2 and A850.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FH2 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A850 will render extra detail having an extra 11MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern FH2 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH2
Portrait photography with Sony A850
33
MP count good (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
72
has manual focus
high resolution (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Street photography factors
Sony A850 Street photography factors
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition (121g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH2
Sports photography with Sony A850
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (270 shots)
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high resolution (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Travel photography features
Sony A850 Travel photography features
72
better than average battery life (270 shots)
lighter than competition (121g)
supports focus by touch
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
55
environment proofing
high resolution (25 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography factors
Sony A850 Landscape photography factors
41
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
better than average battery life (270 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high resolution (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH2 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS16 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lb) 895 grams (1.97 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 270 images 880 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots Single 2
Retail price $149 $0