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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Revealed June 2010
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH5 was brought out 7 months later than the HX5 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the FH5 matches up vs the HX5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony HX5

 FH5 HX5 
RevealedJanuary 2011June 2010Fresher by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Panasonic FH5

 HX5 FH5 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX5

 FH5 HX5 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 comes with external 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 HX5 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the FH5 vs the HX5.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the FH5 and HX5 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH5 and HX5.

All in all, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FH5 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH5 will give extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer FH5 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography features
Sony HX5 Portrait photography features
34
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony HX5
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography advice
Sony HX5 Sports photography advice
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
comes with focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH5
Landscape photography with Sony HX5
38
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
37
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX5 as a Vlogging camera
33
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-05 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 gr (0.27 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $169 $275