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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 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
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony A580

 FH20 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FH20

 A580 FH20 
LaunchedMay 2011January 2010Fresher by 16 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony A580

 FH20 A580 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 size comparison

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

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Street photography highlights
Sony A580 Street photography highlights
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
75
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography details
Sony A580 Sports photography details
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (1,050 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography details
Sony A580 Travel photography details
64
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
good battery life (1,050 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography factors
Sony A580 Landscape photography factors
37
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (1,050 shots)
has double storage slots
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging features
Sony A580 Vlogging features
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2011-05-26
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178 grams (0.39 lbs) 599 grams (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail price $179 $848