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Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55

Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony A57
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Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic FH27 and Sony A55, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH27 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the FH27 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The FH27 was manufactured 5 months later than the A55 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH27 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FH27 grades against the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH27 over the Sony A55

 FH27 A55 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Panasonic FH27

 A55 FH27 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FH27 and Sony A55

 FH27 A55 
LaunchedJanuary 2011August 2010Same age
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH27 has outside measurements of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH27 and Sony A55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the FH27 against the A55.

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the FH27 and A55 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specifications. The graphic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FH27 and A55.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The FH27 uses the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF more challenging.

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH27
Portrait photography with Sony A55
34
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH27 as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH27
Sports photography with Sony A55
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH27
Travel photography with Sony A55
68
includes touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
62
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH27 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
43
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
67
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH27 Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
32
decently wide (28mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
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Panasonic FH27 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH27 and Sony A55
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VI Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 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 file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152 gr (0.34 lbs) 500 gr (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 57 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 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 380 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $229 $800