Panasonic FH6 vs Sony a5100

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic FH6 versus Sony a5100, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the FH6 (14MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the FH6 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The FH6 was announced 3 years before the a5100 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the FH6 grades against the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 and Sony Alpha a5100. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FH6 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH6 enjoys exterior dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH6 versus Sony a5100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FH6 vs the a5100.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH6 and a5100 is 96 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH6 and a5100.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH6 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony a5100 will render greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older FH6 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.