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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Panasonic FH6
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 56 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released May 2011
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH6 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is very well matched but the FH6 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The FH6 was announced 8 months after the A580 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FH6 grades versus the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH6 over the Sony A580

 FH6 A580 
ReleasedJanuary 2012May 2011More modern by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FH6

 A580 FH6 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH6 and Sony A580

 FH6 A580 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH6 provides external dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the FH6 compared to the A580.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FH6 and A580 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH6 and A580.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH6 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A580 will give you more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher FH6 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A580 Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count good (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Street photography features
Sony A580 Street photography features
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (119g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Sports photography advice
Sony A580 Sports photography advice
39
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
great battery power (280 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH6 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
70
great battery power (280 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (119 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
60
better than average battery power (1,050 CIPA)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH6
Landscape photography with Sony A580
41
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
great battery power (280 shots)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (1,050 per charge)
2 card slots
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH6 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
32
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (119 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic support
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH6 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-09 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support 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
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 119 gr (0.26 pounds) 599 gr (1.32 pounds)
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 All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 280 images 1050 images
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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Dual
Cost at launch $129 $848