Panasonic FP2 vs Sony A850

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic FP2 and Sony A850, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FP2 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FP2 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor size.

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The FP2 was released 3 months earlier than the A850 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FP2 grades versus the A850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FP2 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP2 has got physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FP2 and Sony A850 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the FP2 against the A850.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP2 and A850 is 95 and 54 respectively.

Normally, its hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The graphic below may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP2 and A850.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FP2 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A850 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively.