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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Panasonic FH6
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 56 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH6 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the FH6 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The FH6 was introduced 2 years after the A500 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the FH6 scores against the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH6 over the Sony A500

 FH6 A500 
RevealedJanuary 2012August 2009Newer by 29 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic FH6

 A500 FH6 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FH6 and Sony A500

 FH6 A500 
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FH6 has exterior dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FH6 vs the A500.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH6 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The picture below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH6 and A500.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FH6 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Panasonic FH6 will give extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern FH6 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH6 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Street photography details
Sony A500 Street photography details
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (119g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
good battery power (280 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Travel photography information
Sony A500 Travel photography information
71
good battery power (280 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (119 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.5)
43
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Landscape photography info
Sony A500 Landscape photography info
41
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
good battery power (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Vlogging information
Sony A500 Vlogging information
33
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (119g)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH6 and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-01-09 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
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 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.60 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 119 gr (0.26 lb) 630 gr (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 56 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 520 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $129 $638