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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 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 A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A380
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FH3 versus Sony A390, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the A390 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the FH3 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FH3 was announced 6 months prior to the A390 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the FH3 grades versus the A390 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony A390

 FH3 A390 

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Panasonic FH3

 A390 FH3 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A390

 FH3 A390 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010July 2010Similar generation
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH3 comes with exterior measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH3 versus Sony A390 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the FH3 versus the A390.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH3 and A390 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The picture below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH3 and A390.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide the same megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The FH3 features the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography details
Sony A390 Portrait photography details
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography info
Sony A390 Sports photography info
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography factors
Sony A390 Travel photography factors
64
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A390 Landscape photography factors
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH3
Vlogging with Sony A390
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony A390
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Also called Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-06 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165 grams (0.36 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $160 $500