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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 III front
Portability
63
Imaging
74
Features
92
Overall
81

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A7 III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 650g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Older Model is Sony A7 II
  • Renewed by Sony A7 IV
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony A7 III, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and A7 III (24MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and A7 III (Full frame) possess different sensor sizes.

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The FH5 was revealed 8 years earlier than the A7 III and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A7 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FH5 grades vs the A7 III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A7 III

 FH5 A7 III 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 III over the Panasonic FH5

 A7 III FH5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2011Fresher by 87 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A7 III

 FH5 A7 III 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH5 has got external dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A7 III has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the FH5 versus the A7 III.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and A7 III is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FH5 and A7 III.

Clearly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FH5 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A7 III will resolve greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older FH5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography information
Sony A7 III Portrait photography information
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
84
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography information
Sony A7 III Street photography information
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
offers focus via touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
Sports photography with Sony A7 III
40
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
87
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery power (610 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography advice
Sony A7 III Travel photography advice
71
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
supports touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
73
great battery power (610 shots)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
offers focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography features
Sony A7 III Landscape photography features
38
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
85
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
great battery power (610 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging details
Sony A7 III Vlogging details
33
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A7 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony A7 III
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha A7 III
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha A7 III
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-01-05 2018-02-27
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 693
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 3730
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 610 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 2
Price at launch $169 $1,998