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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Later Model is Sony A58
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is fairly similar but the FH5 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The FH5 was released 20 months earlier than the A57 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the FH5 matches up against the A57 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony A57

 FH5 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Panasonic FH5

 A57 FH5 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2011Newer by 20 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony A57

 FH5 A57 
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FH5 has exterior measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the FH5 against the A57.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and A57 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The picture here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and A57.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The FH5 uses the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field more difficult. The more aged FH5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony A57
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH5
Travel photography with Sony A57
71
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
38
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging information
Sony A57 Vlogging information
33
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
77
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony A57
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony SLT-A57
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 gr (0.27 lb) 618 gr (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 260 photos 550 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $169 $1,000