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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 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
  • Released January 2010
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony A500, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FP3 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the FP3 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The FP3 was brought out 5 months after the A500 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the FP3 matches up against the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony A500

 FP3 A500 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic FP3

 A500 FP3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A500

 FP3 A500 
LaunchedJanuary 2010August 2009Similar age
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic FP3 features outside dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony A500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the FP3 against the A500.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FP3 and A500 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FP3 and A500.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FP3 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic FP3 will give you greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A500 Portrait photography factors
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Street photography info
Sony A500 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than average (155g)
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP3
Travel photography with Sony A500
60
features focus by touch
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (155g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
43
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
37
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging factors
Sony A500 Vlogging factors
27
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than average (155g)
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-01-06 2009-08-27
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 gr (0.34 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
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 score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $182 $638