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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS22
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the FH7 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the FH7 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH7 was introduced 2 years later than the A500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the FH7 matches up versus the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Sony A500

 FH7 A500 
RevealedSeptember 2011August 2009More recent by 25 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic FH7

 A500 FH7 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FH7 and Sony A500

 FH7 A500 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH7 features outer 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 A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the FH7 versus the A500.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH7 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The visual below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FH7 and A500.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FH7 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic FH7 will offer you greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images way more aggressively. The newer FH7 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH7
Portrait photography with Sony A500
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than others in class (126g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
43
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
43
relatively wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Vlogging info
Sony A500 Vlogging info
34
relatively wide (28mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
9
no video
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH7 and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS22 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-09-07 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV 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 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126 grams (0.28 lbs) 630 grams (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 260 photos 520 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
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/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $149 $638