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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 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
  • Announced January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Successor is Sony A380
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is very well matched but the FH5 (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The FH5 was revealed 2 years after the A350 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the FH5 scores versus the A350 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A350

 FH5 A350 
RevealedJanuary 2011June 2008More modern by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Panasonic FH5

 A350 FH5 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A350

 FH5 A350 
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH5 provides external measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony A350 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the FH5 compared to the A350.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FH5 and A350 is 96 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The pic below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH5 and A350.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH5 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FH5 will give you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger FH5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A350 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography details
Sony A350 Street photography details
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (121g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
66
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
more heavy than others (674 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
Sports photography with Sony A350
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A350 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition in class (121g)
supports focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
51
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (674 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH5
Landscape photography with Sony A350
38
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
64
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A350 Vlogging highlights
33
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony A350
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2008-06-06
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121 gr (0.27 lb) 674 gr (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 595
Other
Battery life 260 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $169 $600