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Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS16
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Introduced January 2021
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Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic FH2 and Sony a1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the FH2 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the FH2 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) use totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The FH2 was released 11 years prior to the a1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the FH2 matches up vs the a1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Sony a1

 FH2 a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Panasonic FH2

 a1 FH2 
IntroducedJanuary 2021January 2011Newer by 122 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1440k230kSharper display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH2 and Sony a1

 FH2 a1 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH2 features exterior dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH2 and Sony a1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the FH2 against the a1.

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH2 and a1 is 96 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The image below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH2 and a1.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FH2 because of its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony a1 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 36MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged FH2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography factors
Sony a1 Portrait photography factors
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
88
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/400s)
sensor resolution is excellent (50 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH2 as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
67
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
includes focus via touch
environment proof
great high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH2
Sports photography with Sony a1
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (270 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
90
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is excellent (50MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery (530 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH2
Travel photography with Sony a1
72
good battery power (270 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
boasts focus by touch
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
73
better than average battery (530 per charge)
environment proof
has bluetooth
includes focus via touch
sensor resolution is excellent (50 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography info
Sony a1 Landscape photography info
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
good battery power (270 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
88
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is excellent (50 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (32,000)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery (530 per charge)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Vlogging advice
Sony a1 Vlogging advice
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (7680 x 4320 pixels)
has mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH2 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH2 and Sony a1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 Sony Alpha a1
Also called Lumix DMC-FS16 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-01-05 2021-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 8640 x 5760
Maximum native ISO 6400 32000
Maximum boosted ISO - 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 759
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/400s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 7680x4320
Video file format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lbs) 737 grams (1.62 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 270 photos 530 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots 1 2
Price at launch $149 $6,498