Panasonic FH7 vs Sony A55

Let's look a bit more closely at the Panasonic FH7 versus Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH7 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the FH7 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FH7 was released 13 months after the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick view of how the FH7 matches up versus the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 and Sony SLT-A55. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FH7 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FH7 enjoys external measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH7 versus Sony A55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the FH7 vs the A55.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FH7 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FH7 and A55.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The FH7 contains the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher. The more recent FH7 will have an advantage in sensor tech.