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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 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
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FH5 was manufactured 23 months after the W290 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the FH5 matches up vs the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony W290

 FH5 W290 
LaunchedJanuary 2011February 2009Newer by 23 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Panasonic FH5

 W290 FH5 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony W290

 FH5 W290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FH5 enjoys external dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH5 versus Sony W290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the FH5 and the W290.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and W290 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specs. The picture here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH5 and W290.

All in all, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic FH5 to resolve more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher FH5 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
34
good resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony W290
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
Sports photography with Sony W290
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH5
Travel photography with Sony W290
71
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
includes focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
38
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
41
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging advice
Sony W290 Vlogging advice
33
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony W290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Also called Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-01-05 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
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 pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 3.90 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
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121g (0.27 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" 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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $169 $230