Panasonic FH8 vs Sony W530

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony W530, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the W530 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FH8 was launched 13 months later than the W530 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the FH8 grades versus the W530 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FH8 Gallery & Sony W530 Gallery.

For those who are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH8 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony W530 has measurements of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony W530 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the FH8 compared to the W530.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and W530 is 96 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH8 and W530.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic FH8 to offer more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher FH8 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.