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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Renewed by Sony A290
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony A230, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The FH5 was unveiled 20 months later than the A230 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the FH5 scores against the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A230

 FH5 A230 
ReleasedJanuary 2011May 2009Fresher by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Panasonic FH5

 A230 FH5 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A230

 FH5 A230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH5 provides exterior 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 A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony A230 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the FH5 against the A230.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and A230 is 96 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by checking specs. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH5 and A230.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FH5 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FH5 will give you more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer FH5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors
Sony A230 Portrait photography factors
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography info
Sony A230 Street photography info
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
lighter than competition (121g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography factors
Sony A230 Sports photography factors
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
low battery life (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography factors
Sony A230 Travel photography factors
71
lighter than competition (121g)
includes touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
45
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low battery life (230 CIPA)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A230 as a Landscape photography camera
38
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
51
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
low MP (10MP)
low battery life (230 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging features
Sony A230 Vlogging features
33
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (121 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony A230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Also called Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121g (0.27 lbs) 490g (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 230 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $169 $569