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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 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
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Panasonic FH5 and Sony G3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and G3 (10MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FH5 was manufactured 2 years later than the G3 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FH5 matches up versus the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony G3

 FH5 G3 
RevealedJanuary 2011January 2009Fresher by 25 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Panasonic FH5

 G3 FH5 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony G3

 FH5 G3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 offers outside 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 G3 has dimensions of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FH5 and Sony G3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FH5 against the G3.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and G3 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and G3.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FH5 to offer you greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger FH5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography details
Sony G3 Portrait photography details
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
26
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Street photography camera
Sony G3 as a Street photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than others (121g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography advice
Sony G3 Sports photography advice
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography advice
Sony G3 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than others (121 grams)
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
50
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography advice
Sony G3 Landscape photography advice
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
36
you can focus manually
bigger than average screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging highlights
Sony G3 Vlogging highlights
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than others (121 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
27
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone support
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony G3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-01-05 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 121g (0.27 lb) 185g (0.41 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $169 $200