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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony A580, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the FH8 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FH8 was manufactured 8 months later than the A580 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FH8 grades vs the A580 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony A580

 FH8 A580 
LaunchedJanuary 2012May 2011Fresher by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FH8

 A580 FH8 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony A580

 FH8 A580 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH8 offers 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 A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony A580 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FH8 against the A580.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FH8 and A580 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The photograph below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH8 and A580.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The FH8 features the tinier sensor which should make obtaining bokeh more challenging. The more modern FH8 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography factors
Sony A580 Portrait photography factors
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography factors
Sony A580 Street photography factors
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (123g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
75
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A580 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery power (1,050 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography details
Sony A580 Travel photography details
69
lighter than average (123g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
60
better than average battery power (1,050 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH8
Landscape photography with Sony A580
43
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (1,050 per charge)
two card slots
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than average (123 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 4cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 123 grams (0.27 lb) 599 grams (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 260 images 1050 images
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 recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Two
Price at launch $149 $848