Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A550

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony A550, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the FH8 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH8 was brought out 2 years after the A550 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FH8 grades versus the A550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic FH8 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FH8 provides exterior measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony A550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the FH8 compared to the A550.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and A550 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Quite often, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching specs. The image underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH8 and A550.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FH8 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic FH8 will result in greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern FH8 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.