Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A55
Portability
96 Imaging
39 Features
31 Overall
35
96 Imaging
39 Features
31 Overall
35
Portability
67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A55 Key Specs
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
(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
- Launched January 2011
- Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A55
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Introduced August 2010
- Replacement is Sony A57
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Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly similar but the FH5 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe FH5 was manufactured 5 months after the A55 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the FH5 grades vs the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 & Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FH5 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A55
| FH5 | A55 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Panasonic FH5
| A55 | FH5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus |  | More precise focusing | ||
| Display type | Fully Articulated |  | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
| Display sizing | 3" |  | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
| Display resolution | 921k |  | 230k | Clearer display (+691k dot) |
| Selfie screen |  | Easy selfies |
Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A55
| FH5 | A55 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | January 2011 |  | August 2010 | Similar age |
| Touch friendly display |  | Lacking Touch friendly display |
Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison
If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH5 provides outer dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Take a look at the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A55 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the FH5 vs the A55.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.
Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specs. The pic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH5 and A55.
All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The FH5 comes with the tinier sensor which will make getting shallower DOF harder.
Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder
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Portrait Comparison
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography info
Sony A55 Portrait photography info
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
Photography GlossaryStreet Comparison
Panasonic FH5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
Sports photography with Sony A55
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (380 shots)
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Travel photography with Panasonic FH5
Travel photography with Sony A55
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (380 CIPA)
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Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography details
Sony A55 Landscape photography details
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
terrible battery power (380 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Panasonic FH5 Vlogging advice
Sony A55 Vlogging advice
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A55 Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 | Sony SLT-A55 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Panasonic | Sony |
| Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 | Sony SLT-A55 |
| Also called | Lumix DMC-FS18 | - |
| Category | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Launched | 2011-01-05 | 2010-08-24 |
| Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | Venus Engine IV | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
| Max boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW images | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Selective autofocus | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Autofocus live view | ||
| Face detect focus | ||
| Contract detect focus | ||
| Phase detect focus | ||
| Number of focus points | 11 | 15 |
| Cross focus points | - | 3 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Lens focal range | 28-112mm (4.0x) | - |
| Highest aperture | f/3.1-6.5 | - |
| Macro focus range | 5cm | - |
| Available lenses | - | 143 |
| Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
| Display diagonal | 2.7 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch capability | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,150 thousand dot |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous shooting speed | 4.0fps | 10.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Set white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash range | 3.30 m | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Highest flash sync | - | 1/160s |
| 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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
| Mic jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | BuiltIn |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 121 gr (0.27 pounds) | 500 gr (1.10 pounds) |
| Dimensions | 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") | 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | not tested | 73 |
| DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.0 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.4 |
| DXO Low light score | not tested | 816 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 260 photos | 380 photos |
| Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | NP-FW50 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
| Cost at launch | $169 | $800 |