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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 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 HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Released April 2009
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the FH3 (14MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the FH3 (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") boast different sensor sizes.

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The FH3 was unveiled 9 months later than the HX1 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FH3 matches up against the HX1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony HX1

 FH3 HX1 
ReleasedJanuary 2010April 2009Fresher by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Panasonic FH3

 HX1 FH3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony HX1

 FH3 HX1 
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH3 comes with outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Sony HX1 has sizing of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 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 depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FH3 vs the HX1.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH3 and HX1 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The photograph here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH3 and HX1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH3 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FH3 will give you more detail having an extra 5MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images way more aggressively. The more modern FH3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH3
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no external flash support
low megapixels (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography details
Sony HX1 Street photography details
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
more heavy than average (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography information
Sony HX1 Sports photography information
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
36
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
65
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
48
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (544 grams)
low megapixels (9MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
39
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
Sony HX1 Vlogging details
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
22
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 pixels)
does not have microphone support
more heavy than average (544g)
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony HX1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-01-06 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 9.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone 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 lb) 544 gr (1.20 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $160 $47,999