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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2021
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) possess different sensor size.

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The FH5 was launched 11 years earlier than the a1 which is quite a big gap 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 a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the FH5 scores against the a1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony a1

 FH5 a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Panasonic FH5

 a1 FH5 
RevealedJanuary 2021January 2011More modern by 122 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1440k230kCrisper display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony a1

 FH5 a1 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 has got external dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the FH5 compared to the a1.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and a1 is 96 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The picture below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH5 and a1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FH5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony a1 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 34MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FH5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography features
Sony a1 Portrait photography features
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
88
manual focus
high flash sync (1/400s)
great resolution (50 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony a1
67
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than average in class (121g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
79
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather proof
good high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
Sports photography with Sony a1
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
90
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (30.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great resolution (50MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proof
great battery pack (530 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography highlights
Sony a1 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than average in class (121g)
boasts focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
73
great battery pack (530 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch focus
great resolution (50MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a1 as a Landscape photography camera
38
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
88
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great resolution (50MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (32,000)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
great battery pack (530 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging factors
Sony a1 Vlogging factors
33
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (7680 x 4320 resolution)
includes microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony a1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha a1
Alternative name Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-05 2021-01-26
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 50 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 6400 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 759
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 133
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 30.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/400s
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) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 7680x4320
Video data format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 grams (0.27 pounds) 737 grams (1.62 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 530 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail price $169 $6,498