Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A550

The following is a complete review of the Panasonic FH7 versus Sony A550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH7 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very comparable but the FH7 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The FH7 was introduced 22 months after the A550 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the FH7 grades versus the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic FH7 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH7 offers 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) and the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH7 versus Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the FH7 against the A550.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH7 and A550 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH7 and A550.

As you can see, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FH7 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic FH7 will show extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer FH7 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.