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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III 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 RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 IV
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony RX100 III, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is pretty well matched but the FH8 (1/2.3") and RX100 III (1") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FH8 was brought out 3 years before the RX100 III and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FH8 grades vs the RX100 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony RX100 III

 FH8 RX100 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Panasonic FH8

 RX100 III FH8 
RevealedMay 2014January 2012Fresher by 28 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony RX100 III

 FH8 RX100 III 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH8 provides physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony RX100 III has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony RX100 III in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the FH8 versus the RX100 III.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FH8 and RX100 III is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH8 and RX100 III.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH8 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony RX100 III will give you more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older FH8 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Portrait photography camera
34
good resolution (16MP)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
64
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography information
Sony RX100 III Street photography information
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (123 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH8
Sports photography with Sony RX100 III
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH8
Travel photography with Sony RX100 III
69
lighter than competitors (123g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
85
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH8
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 III
43
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
73
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
33
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competitors (123g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
80
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (290 grams)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony RX100 III
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-09 2014-05-15
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture f/2.5-6.4 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance 4cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000s
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 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 123g (0.27 lbs) 290g (0.64 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 320 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $149 $748