Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A77 II

Here is a detailed review of the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A77 II, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and A77 II (24MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and A77 II (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The FH5 was introduced 4 years earlier than the A77 II and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A77 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FH5 matches up against the A77 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 and Sony SLT-A77 II. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FH5 Gallery and Sony A77 II Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 provides physical 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 A77 II has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 647 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony A77 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the FH5 versus the A77 II.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and A77 II is 96 and 62 respectively.

Often, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH5 and A77 II.

Clearly, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH5 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A77 II will produce greater detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older FH5 will be behind in sensor innovation.