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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Successor is Sony RX100 II
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FH5 and Sony RX100, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is relatively comparable but the FH5 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") feature different sensor size.

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The FH5 was announced 20 months earlier than the RX100 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the FH5 scores vs the RX100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony RX100

 FH5 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Panasonic FH5

 RX100 FH5 
IntroducedAugust 2012January 2011Newer by 20 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony RX100

 FH5 RX100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH5 has got outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH5 and Sony RX100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the FH5 against the RX100.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and RX100 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing technical specs. The pic below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and RX100.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FH5 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony RX100 will produce extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged FH5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 Portrait photography factors
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
64
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony RX100
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
79
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (240 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography details
Sony RX100 Sports photography details
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition in class (121g)
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
79
lighter than competitors (240g)
decent megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 Landscape photography details
38
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 Vlogging advice
33
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
38
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (240g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony RX100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Also called Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-01-05 2012-08-28
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 121 grams (0.27 pounds) 240 grams (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 390
Other
Battery life 260 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $169 $448