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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Key Specs

Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A350
  • Successor is Sony A390
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic FH3 versus Sony A380, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly close but the FH3 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The FH3 was unveiled 5 months after the A380 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the FH3 scores vs the A380 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony A380

 FH3 A380 

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Panasonic FH3

 A380 FH3 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A380

 FH3 A380 
RevealedJanuary 2010August 2009Same age
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurements
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH3 offers outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH3 versus Sony A380 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the FH3 and the A380.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH3 and A380 is 94 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing technical specs. The pic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH3 and A380.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The FH3 features the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF harder.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography details
Sony A380 Portrait photography details
28
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography information
Sony A380 Street photography information
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography information
Sony A380 Sports photography information
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH3
Travel photography with Sony A380
64
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (500 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH3
Landscape photography with Sony A380
37
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
61
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
terrible battery power (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
Sony A380 Vlogging details
29
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony A380
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Also called Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-06 2009-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file 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 165 gr (0.36 pounds) 519 gr (1.14 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 614
Other
Battery life - 500 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $160 $899