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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 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
  • Announced January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and S950 (10MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FH5 was released 23 months after the S950 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FH5 scores vs the S950 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony S950

 FH5 S950 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2009More modern by 23 months

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Panasonic FH5

 S950 FH5 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony S950

 FH5 S950 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FH5 features exterior dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony S950 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony S950 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the FH5 vs the S950.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and S950 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH5 and S950.

Clearly, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Panasonic FH5 to provide more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer FH5 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography info
Sony S950 Portrait photography info
34
good MP (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
26
has manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony S950
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography features
Sony S950 Sports photography features
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography highlights
Sony S950 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
features focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
50
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
38
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
31
has manual focus
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony S950
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-01-05 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Style of battery 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
Retail cost $169 $130