Panasonic FH20 vs Sony RX1

Below is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony RX1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the FH20 (14MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the FH20 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The FH20 was announced 4 years before the RX1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the FH20 grades against the RX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FH20 Gallery and Sony RX1 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FH20 has got exterior dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH20 vs Sony RX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FH20 and the RX1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FH20 and RX1 is 93 and 79 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH20 and RX1.

Plainly, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FH20 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony RX1 will offer you greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older FH20 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.