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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2010
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A200
  • Replacement is Sony A290
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony A230, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the FP3 (14MP) and A230 (10MP) and the FP3 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FP3 was released 8 months after the A230 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the FP3 grades vs the A230 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony A230

 FP3 A230 
RevealedJanuary 2010May 2009More modern by 8 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Panasonic FP3

 A230 FP3 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A230

 FP3 A230 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP3 has physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony A230 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the FP3 vs the A230.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP3 and A230 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP3 and A230.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FP3 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic FP3 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher FP3 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A230 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than average (155 grams)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Sports photography factors
Sony A230 Sports photography factors
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Travel photography advice
Sony A230 Travel photography advice
60
features focus via touch
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (155g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
45
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography features
Sony A230 Landscape photography features
37
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
terrible battery pack (230 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging factors
Sony A230 Vlogging factors
27
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than average (155 grams)
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony A230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2009-05-18
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155 gr (0.34 lbs) 490 gr (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 63
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 230 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $182 $569