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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Key Specs

Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A35
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FH20 and Sony A37, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH20 (14MP) and the A37 (16MP) is relatively close but the FH20 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The FH20 was revealed 3 years earlier than the A37 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FH20 grades versus the A37 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony A37

 FH20 A37 
Screen sizing2.7"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.1")

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Panasonic FH20

 A37 FH20 
IntroducedMay 2012January 2010More modern by 28 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony A37

 FH20 A37 
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH20 has got outer dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony A37 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH20 and Sony A37 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the FH20 and the A37.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH20 and A37 is 93 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH20 and A37.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FH20 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A37 will result in greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged FH20 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A37 Portrait photography highlights
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH20
Street photography with Sony A37
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography features
Sony A37 Sports photography features
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography highlights
Sony A37 Travel photography highlights
64
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (500 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A37 Landscape photography highlights
37
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.6")
bad battery pack (500 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging highlights
Sony A37 Vlogging highlights
28
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Sony A37
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Sony SLT-A37
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2012-05-16
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
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) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.6"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178g (0.39 lb) 506g (1.12 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $179 $522