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Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550

Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic FH27
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 152g - 99 x 57 x 28mm
  • Released January 2011
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Panasonic FH27 versus Sony A550, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH27 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the FH27 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The FH27 was brought out 14 months after the A550 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH27 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the FH27 matches up versus the A550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH27 over the Sony A550

 FH27 A550 
ReleasedJanuary 2011December 2009More modern by 14 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic FH27

 A550 FH27 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH27 and Sony A550

 FH27 A550 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH27 has outside measurements of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH27 versus Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the FH27 and the A550.

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH27 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The image below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FH27 and A550.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FH27 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic FH27 will resolve extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The younger FH27 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH27
Portrait photography with Sony A550
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH27 Street photography info
Sony A550 Street photography info
63
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH27 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (480 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH27
Travel photography with Sony A550
68
boasts focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
52
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH27
Landscape photography with Sony A550
43
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (480 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH27 Vlogging information
Sony A550 Vlogging information
32
pretty wide (28mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH27 and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VI Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
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 range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152g (0.34 lb) 632g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 57 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 All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 250 images 480 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $229 $749