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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the FH3 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FH3 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The FH3 was unveiled 3 months prior to the A850 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FH3 grades vs the A850 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony A850

 FH3 A850 

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FH3

 A850 FH3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A850

 FH3 A850 
IntroducedJanuary 2010April 2010Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH3 provides outer 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) while the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FH3 compared to the A850.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FH3 and A850 is 94 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specs. The picture underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH3 and A850.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FH3 using its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A850 will produce extra detail having an extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography advice
Sony A850 Portrait photography advice
28
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
has manual focus
amazing megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography factors
Sony A850 Street photography factors
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography info
Sony A850 Sports photography info
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH3
Travel photography with Sony A850
64
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
weather proofing
amazing megapixels (25 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
37
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
does not have liveview
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging info
Sony A850 Vlogging info
29
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
9
no video
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 25MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250s
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 format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 165g (0.36 lb) 895g (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - 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 Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Retail pricing $160 $0