Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A850

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FH7 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.