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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
62
Overall
65

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 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
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS11
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced October 2008
  • Refreshed by Sony A99
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A900, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the FH3 (14MP) and A900 (25MP) and the FH3 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) use different sensor size.

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The FH3 was manufactured 15 months later than the A900 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the FH3 grades vs the A900 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony A900

 FH3 A900 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010October 2008More recent by 15 months

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Panasonic FH3

 A900 FH3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A900

 FH3 A900 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FH3 comes with external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony A900 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A900 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the FH3 compared to the A900.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FH3 and A900 is 94 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FH3 and A900.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FH3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A900 will give greater detail due to its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent FH3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH3
Portrait photography with Sony A900
28
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
72
manual focus
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography factors
Sony A900 Street photography factors
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A900 as a Sports photography camera
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing MP (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography features
Sony A900 Travel photography features
65
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
55
environment proofing
amazing MP (25MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A900 Landscape photography factors
37
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
no liveview feature
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging info
Sony A900 Vlogging info
29
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
9
no video shooting
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony A900
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-01-06 2008-10-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165 grams (0.36 lbs) 895 grams (1.97 lbs)
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 All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1431
Other
Battery life - 880 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots Single Dual
Retail pricing $160 $2,736