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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Refreshed by Sony A9 II
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the FH8 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the FH8 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The FH8 was announced 6 years prior to the A9 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the FH8 scores versus the A9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony A9

 FH8 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Panasonic FH8

 A9 FH8 
LaunchedApril 2017January 2012More recent by 64 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kCrisper display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony A9

 FH8 A9 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH8 has external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A9 has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the FH8 compared to the A9.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and A9 is 96 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH8 and A9.

All in all, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FH8 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A9 will give you greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older FH8 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography advice
Sony A9 Portrait photography advice
34
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
83
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography details
Sony A9 Street photography details
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (123g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery life (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography info
Sony A9 Travel photography info
69
lighter than competitors (123g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
73
great battery life (650 shots)
weather proofing
has bluetooth
offers focus by touch
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography factors
Sony A9 Landscape photography factors
43
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
85
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
great battery life (650 shots)
has dual storage slots
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Vlogging information
Sony A9 Vlogging information
33
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competitors (123g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony A9
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Alpha A9
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-09 2017-04-19
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 693
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 123 grams (0.27 pounds) 673 grams (1.48 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 260 shots 650 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots Single Dual
Launch pricing $149 $4,498