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Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
17
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Panasonic FP2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2010
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
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FP2 and Sony A580, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FP2 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively similar but the FP2 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The FP2 was manufactured 16 months prior to the A580 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the FP2 matches up vs the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP2 over the Sony A580

 FP2 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FP2

 A580 FP2 
IntroducedMay 2011January 2010More recent by 16 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP2 and Sony A580

 FP2 A580 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FP2 has outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FP2 and Sony A580 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 depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the FP2 against the A580.

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP2 and A580 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FP2 and A580.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FP2 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A580 will offer you more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older FP2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Portrait photography info
Sony A580 Portrait photography info
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP2
Street photography with Sony A580
55
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competitors (151g)
75
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Sports photography details
Sony A580 Sports photography details
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
good battery power (1,050 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP2
Travel photography with Sony A580
56
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (151 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
60
good battery power (1,050 shots)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Landscape photography details
Sony A580 Landscape photography details
32
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (1,050 per charge)
2 card slots
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (151g)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP2 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-06 2011-05-26
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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 Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151 grams (0.33 lb) 599 grams (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" 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 - 1050 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 Two
Retail cost $80 $848