Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A290

Here is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A290, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH7 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly similar but the FH7 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The FH7 was released 16 months later than the A290 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the FH7 grades versus the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FH7 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH7 enjoys physical measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the FH7 vs the A290.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH7 and A290 is 96 and 66 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to see the gap between sensor sizing only by reading specifications. The graphic underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FH7 and A290.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH7 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FH7 will offer more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer FH7 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.