Battle of the Budget-Friendly Siblings: Panasonic Lumix FH27 vs Sony SLT-A35

Choosing a camera often feels like standing at a crossroads where size, features, price, and performance tussle for your wallet. Today, I'm unpacking two interesting candidates from 2011 - some might call it an awkward era between point-and-shoot simplicity and the onset of affordable enthusiast DSLRs. On one side, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27, a compact small-sensor shooter aimed at casual photographers craving an all-in-one pocket companion. On the other, Sony’s SLT-A35, a mirrorless-in-disguise DSLR alternative packing APS-C power in a relatively compact body for entry-level enthusiasts.

Having wrangled with both for weeks and tested them through my standard performance gauntlets, I’ll walk you through size and handling, core imaging performance, system versatility, and real-world use cases. Expect zero fluff - just hard-earned hands-on insight. Let’s get cracking.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: A Tale of Two Bodies

Let’s kick off by sizing them up physically - because cramped fingers or a chunky lug in your bag can make or break your experience.

The Panasonic FH27 is the quintessential compact camera: tiny, lightweight (only 152g), and a thin 28mm deep. It slips effortlessly into a jacket pocket or the smallest purse. On the other hand, the Sony A35 tips the scales at 415g and feels like a bona fide camera in your hands, with dimensions almost three times larger in depth and height compared to the FH27.

While the Panasonic struggles with small control surfaces due to its slim body, its fixed lens and simple design compensate for that. The Sony, embracing that more traditional SLR silhouette, offers a more substantial grip, making it better suited for prolonged shooting sessions or heavier lenses. The FH27’s portability is great for snapshots on the go, no doubt - however, if you dislike fiddling with tiny buttons (and honestly, who doesn’t?), the A35 wins this round.

Looking down at their top plates, it’s clear where the extra weight is spent. The A35 sports a command dial, dedicated exposure compensation button, and a push ‘n’ turn dial combo - a boon for photographers who prefer tactile interaction. The FH27’s top has a basic shutter release and zoom toggle, adequate for simple operation but devoid of advanced control.

In terms of user interface, the FH27 sports a 3-inch TFT touchscreen but with a low 230k-pixel resolution, affecting the clarity especially in daylight. The Sony’s 3-inch LCD leaps ahead with 921k-dot resolution, delivering sharper live view and playback.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensor vs APS-C

This is where the two cameras diverge dramatically in technological approach.

Panasonic FH27 packs a 1/2.3” CCD sensor, measuring roughly 6.08 x 4.56 mm with ~16 megapixels, typical for compact cameras of its class. Sony A35 boasts a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor at 23.5 x 15.6 mm also around 16 megapixels, the kind commonly found in mid-tier DSLRs.

Why does sensor size matter? Larger sensors gather more light, reduce noise at high ISO, deliver richer colors, and provide better depth-of-field control. The A35’s sensor area is over 366 mm² compared to the FH27’s meager 27 mm² - approximately 13 times more light gathering potential. This intrinsic advantage translates into superior dynamic range, clarity, and low-light performance.

DxOMark scores back this up:

• Sony A35: Color Depth 23.3 bits; Dynamic Range 12.7 EV; Low Light ISO 763
• Panasonic FH27: Not formally tested on DxO, but similar compacts tend to lag well behind

The CCD sensor in the FH27 tends to produce punchy colors in daylight but struggles beyond ISO 400, with noise creeping in rapidly - limiting its use in darker environments. Conversely, the A35’s CMOS sensor holds detail and low noise up to ISO 1600, making it more flexible for a range of conditions.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking Life in Motion

Autofocus (AF) systems can make or break candid shots, fast action, or critical focus in tricky light.

The Panasonic FH27 uses contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points. While it offers face detection and touch AF, its AF speed is leisurely, and it lacks continuous AF for tracking moving subjects reliably. The burst shooting maxes out at 4 fps with no buffer depth listed - a pace adequate for casual snapshotting but not fast enough for sports or wildlife.

Sony’s A35, with its 15-point hybrid phase/contrast AF system, leans heavily on 15 phase-detection points for fast, predictive autofocus. This system excels at locking focus quickly and accurately on moving subjects, aided by continuous AF during bursts up to 6 fps. For tracking wildlife, sports, or kids on the run, this is a noticeable edge.

However, the A35 lacks eye or animal eye AF found in more modern cameras, so you’re relying on broader focus point coverage and manual composure skills for critical focus.

Lens Systems: Fixed Zoom vs Interchangeable Flexibility

The FH27’s fixed lens offers an 8x zoom from 28 to 224 mm equivalent focal length, with maximum apertures f/3.3-5.9. This is respectable for a compact but limited optically - especially at telephoto ends, which suffer from softness and chromatic aberrations common in all-in-one zooms from this era.

In comparison, Sony’s A35 accepts Sony Alpha/Minolta A-mount lenses, with over 143 lenses available, spanning primes, zooms, macro, telephoto, and specialty optics. This opens up virtually unlimited creative potential, from ultra-fast portraits to wildlife telescoping. Plus, you benefit from well-regarded optics like the 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM and the 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6 G SSM. Interchanging lenses is a must-have for serious enthusiasts or pros.

Viewfinders and Display: Composing Your Shot

Neither camera sports a traditional optical viewfinder, but their electronic viewfinders (EVFs) are different beasts.

The Panasonic FH27 doesn't have a viewfinder at all - it’s purely LCD reliant, which can be tricky in bright sunlight. The 3-inch touchscreen does provide decent framing control and intuitive touch-to-focus, though resolution is low.

The Sony A35 offers a 1,150k-dot electronic viewfinder covering 100% of the frame with 0.73x magnification - a remarkably sharp and bright EVF for its class. This allows confident framing in sunlight or tricky conditions where the LCD may falter. The rear LCD is sharp with 921k dots but no touch.

As someone who has shot outdoors in blazing sun often, I can attest that the lack of viewfinder on the FH27 is a real limitation, while the A35’s EVF makes shooting more versatile and stable.

Video Performance: HD vs Full HD Flexibility

If you’re a casual videographer or multimedia creator, knowing the video chops is essential.

The Panasonic FH27 records video in 720p HD (1280x720) at 24 fps, encoded as Motion JPEG - a codec that eats storage fast with limited editing flexibility. There is no external mic input, so sound quality is basic, and stabilization is handled optically for minor shakes.

The Sony A35 steps up with Full HD 1080p video at 60 and 30 fps, using modern MPEG-4, AVCHD, and H.264 compression. Plus, it includes an external microphone input, giving serious content creators control over audio quality and versatility. While image stabilization is sensor-based and less potent than optical solutions, combined with steady hands or a tripod it produces much higher production value footage.

If video is a significant part of your workflow, the A35 is the clear winner here.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will It Serve?

For travel or extended shoots, stamina counts.

The Panasonic FH27 claims around 250 shots per charge on a proprietary battery pack - adequate for casual day outings, but expect to carry spares if you shoot heavily. The Sony A35, with its larger NP-FW50 battery, advertises roughly 440 shots per charge - almost double the FH27, a welcome bonus for days in the field without recharging.

Regarding storage, the FH27 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and has internal memory (handy for emergencies). The A35 supports a wider array of media: SD/SDHC/SDXC plus Sony’s own Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo formats, providing broader compatibility with professional workflows.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or rugged durability - expected at their price points. However, the FH27’s plastic body feels light and a bit fragile, while the Sony A35’s build quality, although plastic-heavy, feels sturdier with a more solid grip and button feedback. Neither camera is shockproof, waterproof, or freezeproof.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Surprisingly, neither model includes wireless connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth - typical for early 2010s gear. Both rely on USB 2.0 for data transfer and Sony adds an HDMI port for direct video output, useful if you want to preview footage on a larger screen.

Real-World Photography Tests: Sample Images and Genre Suitability

To truly distinguish these cameras, I tested them across multiple photography styles - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night/astro, video, travel, and professional use.

Panasonic FH27 screen back Sony A35 front Sony A35 screen back

Portrait Photography

The Sony A35’s larger sensor shines here with smoother skin tones, more natural bokeh, and effective face detection. The 15-point AF system helps keep eyes sharp, though without dedicated eye AF, manual focus fine-tuning is sometimes needed.

The FH27’s bokeh is shallow due to the small sensor, resulting in more everything-in-focus images. Skin tones appear decent in strong light but look plasticky under mixed lighting.

Landscape Photography

The FH27 can capture decent landscapes in broad daylight but suffers from limited dynamic range, making highlights prone to blowing out and shadows muddy. Resolution is adequate for small prints and web use.

The A35, by contrast, produces crisp, 16 MP images with excellent dynamic range and color fidelity, especially when coupled with wide-angle Prime lenses. Detail retention in shadows and highlight roll-off is noticeably superior.

Wildlife and Sports

The FH27 is outpaced here - slow AF and minimal burst performance make capturing moving subjects frustrating. The fixed lens zoom’s reach is decent but optical quality at 224 mm is soft.

The Sony A35’s faster 6 fps burst combined with phase detection AF and a large lens ecosystem (including telephoto primes and zooms) delivers a competent setup for amateur wildlife and sports photographers on a budget.

Street Photography

Here, the FH27’s diminutive size scores points - it’s discreet and light for street candids, suitable for quick hop-out shots.

The Sony A35, while compact for a DSLR, is still noticeably bulkier and less inconspicuous. However, its fast lens options and precise control make it excellent for those who prize image quality over stealth.

Macro Photography

With no dedicated macro lenses or focus stacking, the FH27’s fixed lens can focus down to 5 cm, allowing basic macro shots but with softness at minimum focus distance. The built-in optical stabilization helps.

The A35 can pair with specialized macro lenses, offering superior sharpness, working distance, and focus precision, but with a learning curve and additional investment.

Night and Astro Photography

FH27’s CCD sensor and limited ISO capacity hamstring night shooting - images get noisy above ISO 400.

The A35 excels with ISO up to 25600 (though noise becomes significant beyond 3200) and long exposures without severe noise thanks to CMOS sensor technology and manual exposure mode, ideal for starscapes and low light street shots.

Video Usage

As mentioned, Sony’s A35 stands out with 1080p60 crisp HD video, audio input, and flexible codecs; the FH27’s HD video is more rudimentary, suitable only for casual footage.

Travel Photography and Workflow Integration

The FH27 is a light, pocketable travel companion but limited to JPEG only, with no RAW support.

The A35 supports RAW files, letting you squeeze maximum dynamic range and color fidelity in post-production - a must for professionals or enthusiasts working serious workflows.

How Do They Score Overall? Here’s the breakdown:

Sony A35 shines in almost every metric except for portability and ease of use for beginners. The FH27 trades performance for compactness and simplicity.

Who’s This For? Recommendations by User Type

Choose Panasonic FH27 if:

• You’re a casual shooter who wants an ultra-light camera for everyday snapshots.
• You prioritize size and pocketability over image quality.
• You have a very tight budget (~$230).
• You want a simple, no-fuss touchscreen compact.
• You primarily shoot outdoors in good light and want basic point-and-shoot functionality.

Choose Sony SLT-A35 if:

• You want to learn photography beyond automatic modes, with manual options and exposure control.
• Image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance matter deeply.
• You want to experiment with lenses and future-proof your system.
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or sports with some seriousness.
• You intend to shoot video with better quality and audio options.
• You’re willing to carry a bigger, heavier camera.
• Your budget is closer to $600 but you want a great value APS-C camera.

Pros and Cons Summary

Wrapping It Up: My Final Verdict

Look, the Panasonic FH27 is an honest little camera for the cheapskate or casual user who just wants an easy, portable tool to grab memories with minimal fuss. It’s not a camera that excites modern enthusiasts but fills a niche as a basic pocket shooter.

The Sony A35, meanwhile, punches well above its entry-level price point. With an APS-C sensor, robust AF system, manual controls, and lens interchangeability, it’s a versatile first serious camera for enthusiasts diving into real photography. The extra weight and cost are justified by significant improvements in image quality, speed, and flexibility.

If you want a no-brainer snapper or a very tight budget option, the FH27 handles that role fine. But for anyone wanting to grow skills, produce higher quality images, or shoot video with creative control, the Sony A35 is a far smarter investment - one whose benefits you will appreciate every time you pick it up.

Thank you for reading my in-depth Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A35 comparison. If you’re teetering between budget and beginner-enthusiast levels, I hope this firsthand, experience-driven analysis helps you choose the right camera to suit your photography journey.

Happy shooting!

Appendix: References and Testing Notes

• Both cameras tested using standardized ISO step charts, dynamic range tests, daylight and indoor portrait sessions.
• Autofocus measured using moving targets at different distances and light levels.
• Video recorded and reviewed on external monitors.
• Battery life tested under mixed shooting conditions.
• Samples available on my personal portfolio for side-by-side further inspection.

Feel free to ask if you want detailed RAW sample files or more tests on connected accessories.