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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 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 A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Panasonic FH8 and Sony A850, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the FH8 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FH8 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor size.

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The FH8 was released 22 months later than the A850 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the FH8 matches up versus the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony A850

 FH8 A850 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2010More recent by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FH8

 A850 FH8 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony A850

 FH8 A850 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH8 offers exterior measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH8 and Sony A850 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the FH8 against the A850.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FH8 and A850 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FH8 and A850.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FH8 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A850 will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger FH8 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A850 as a Portrait photography camera
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
you can focus manually
excellent megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography highlights
Sony A850 Street photography highlights
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (123g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Sports photography info
Sony A850 Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography highlights
Sony A850 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than competition (123g)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.5)
55
weather proofing
excellent megapixels (25 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
43
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
no liveview
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
33
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (123 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-01-09 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 123 gr (0.27 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 260 images 880 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Dual
Cost at release $149 $0