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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A380
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH20 (14MP) and the A390 (14MP) is fairly close but the FH20 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The FH20 was manufactured 6 months before the A390 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the FH20 scores vs the A390 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony A390

 FH20 A390 

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Panasonic FH20

 A390 FH20 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony A390

 FH20 A390 
LaunchedJanuary 2010July 2010Same age
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH20 comes with outer dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Sony A390 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the FH20 and the A390.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH20 and A390 is 93 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through specifications. The graphic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FH20 and A390.

To sum up, both cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The FH20 features the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH20
Portrait photography with Sony A390
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Street photography advice
Sony A390 Street photography advice
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography factors
Sony A390 Sports photography factors
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
low battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography info
Sony A390 Travel photography info
64
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
53
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery power (230 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography details
Sony A390 Landscape photography details
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging highlights
Sony A390 Vlogging highlights
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Sony A390
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-01-06 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 178g (0.39 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $179 $500