Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580

Here is a complete comparison of the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH20 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is very comparable but the FH20 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The FH20 was manufactured 16 months earlier than the A580 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the FH20 scores versus the A580 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FH20 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FH20 enjoys exterior measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the FH20 vs the A580.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FH20 and A580 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing specs. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH20 and A580.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FH20 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A580 will produce greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older FH20 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.