Panasonic FP1 vs Sony A58

Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FP1 and Sony A58, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the FP1 (12MP) and A58 (20MP) and the FP1 (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The FP1 was unveiled 4 years before the A58 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP1 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FP1 grades vs the A58 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 and Sony SLT-A58. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic FP1 Gallery and Sony A58 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP1 enjoys physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony A58 has dimensions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FP1 and Sony A58 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the FP1 vs the A58.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP1 and A58 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP1 and A58.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP1 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A58 will render more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged FP1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.