Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A55

Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FH3 versus Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very close but the FH3 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH3 was revealed 7 months prior to the A55 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the FH3 grades vs the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 & Sony SLT-A55. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FH3 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH3 has got physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH3 versus Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FH3 compared to the A55.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH3 and A55 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The image below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FH3 and A55.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH3 having a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony A55 will render greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FH3 will be behind in sensor tech.