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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 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
  • Released January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A300
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and A330 (10MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and A330 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The FH5 was manufactured 20 months later than the A330 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FH5 scores vs the A330 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A330

 FH5 A330 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011May 2009Fresher by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Panasonic FH5

 A330 FH5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A330

 FH5 A330 
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH5 provides outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A330 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the FH5 against the A330.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and A330 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The photograph below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FH5 and A330.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH5 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic FH5 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer FH5 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A330 Portrait photography highlights
34
decent MP (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
62
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A330 as a Street photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
75
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography info
Sony A330 Sports photography info
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A330 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
supports focus by touch
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
44
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery (230 per charge)
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A330 Landscape photography highlights
38
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
54
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
Vlogging with Sony A330
33
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
9
no video
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony A330
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Type 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 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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 distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 lb) 529g (1.17 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 535
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 230 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $169 $545