Panasonic FH2 vs Sony A850

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The full galleries are available at Panasonic FH2 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.