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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS22
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Updated by Sony A290
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the FH7 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the FH7 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The FH7 was unveiled 2 years later than the A230 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the FH7 grades vs the A230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Sony A230

 FH7 A230 
IntroducedSeptember 2011May 2009More recent by 29 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Panasonic FH7

 A230 FH7 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic FH7 and Sony A230

 FH7 A230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FH7 provides outside dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the FH7 compared to the A230.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FH7 and A230 is 96 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH7 and A230.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FH7 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic FH7 will resolve greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The younger FH7 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Portrait photography info
Sony A230 Portrait photography info
34
good resolution (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Street photography highlights
Sony A230 Street photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH7
Sports photography with Sony A230
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition in class (126g)
provides focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
45
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (230 per charge)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH7
Landscape photography with Sony A230
43
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
51
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
low battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Vlogging highlights
Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
34
decently wide (28mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
9
no video
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH7 and Sony A230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS22 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-09-07 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 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 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 grams (0.28 lb) 490 grams (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 63
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 531
Other
Battery life 260 images 230 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $149 $569