Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7
93 Imaging
36 Features
21 Overall
30


84 Imaging
63 Features
71 Overall
66
Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs
(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
- Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
- Launched December 2011

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview
On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the FH20 (14MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the FH20 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

The FH20 was brought out 23 months earlier than the NEX-7 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FH20 matches up vs the NEX-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 and Sony Alpha NEX-7. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic FH20 Gallery and Sony NEX-7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony NEX-7
FH20 | NEX-7 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Panasonic FH20
NEX-7 | FH20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | December 2011 | ![]() | January 2010 | Newer by 23 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial precise focusing | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony NEX-7
FH20 | NEX-7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | No Touch friendly display |
Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison
For those who are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH20 provides 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 NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).
Analyze the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the FH20 vs the NEX-7.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FH20 and NEX-7 is 93 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The image here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH20 and NEX-7.
Clearly, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FH20 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-7 will result in greater detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged FH20 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 | Sony Alpha NEX-7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 | Sony Alpha NEX-7 |
Other name | Lumix DMC-FS30 | - |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Advanced Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2010-01-06 | 2011-12-13 |
Body design | Compact | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | 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 | 24 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 6000 x 4000 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 16000 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens focal range | 28-224mm (8.0x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
Macro focus range | 5cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 121 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 2.7 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 230k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 5.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 5.80 m (Auto ISO) | 6.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | - | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 178 gr (0.39 pounds) | 400 gr (0.88 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") | 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 81 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 24.1 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1016 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 430 photographs |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at launch | $179 | $699 |