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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS22
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced April 2010
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic FH7 and Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the FH7 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FH7 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH7 was unveiled 17 months later than the A850 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FH7 matches up against the A850 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Sony A850

 FH7 A850 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011April 2010More recent by 17 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FH7

 A850 FH7 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH7 and Sony A850

 FH7 A850 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FH7 comes with exterior 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 A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH7 and Sony A850 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the FH7 versus the A850.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FH7 and A850 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The visual here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH7 and A850.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FH7 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A850 will produce extra detail having an extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent FH7 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH7
Portrait photography with Sony A850
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
has manual focus
high megapixels (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Street photography information
Sony A850 Street photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than others in class (126g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
55
environment proof
high megapixels (25MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Landscape photography advice
Sony A850 Landscape photography advice
43
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high megapixels (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
no liveview feature
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Vlogging details
Sony A850 Vlogging details
34
rather wide (28mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH7 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Alternative name Lumix DMC-FS22 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-09-07 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 25MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting 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
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126g (0.28 lbs) 895g (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 880 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots Single Dual
Launch price $149 $0