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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A580, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is very similar but the FH3 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The FH3 was announced 16 months prior to the A580 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FH3 matches up against the A580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony A580

 FH3 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FH3

 A580 FH3 
IntroducedMay 2011January 2010More modern by 16 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A580

 FH3 A580 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH3 enjoys outer dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A580 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the FH3 vs the A580.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FH3 and A580 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing specs. The image underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FH3 and A580.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FH3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A580 will offer more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged FH3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A580 Portrait photography factors
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography info
Sony A580 Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography info
Sony A580 Sports photography info
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery power (1,050 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography features
Sony A580 Travel photography features
64
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
good battery power (1,050 shots)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A580 Landscape photography factors
37
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (1,050 per charge)
two card slots
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
Sony A580 Vlogging details
29
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Other name Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-06 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.36 lbs) 599 grams (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
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/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 Two
Cost at launch $160 $848