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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP3 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is very well matched but the FP3 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The FP3 was manufactured 16 months prior to the A580 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the FP3 scores vs the A580 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony A580

 FP3 A580 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FP3

 A580 FP3 
ReleasedMay 2011January 2010Newer by 16 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A580

 FP3 A580 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP3 offers outer dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FP3 versus the A580.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FP3 and A580 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP3 and A580.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FP3 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A580 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged FP3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A580 Portrait photography highlights
28
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Street photography info
Sony A580 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than others (155g)
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Sports photography highlights
Sony A580 Sports photography highlights
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
max fps low (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (1,050 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP3
Travel photography with Sony A580
60
includes touch focus
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (155g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
better than average battery life (1,050 shots)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography features
Sony A580 Landscape photography features
37
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (1,050 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FP3
Vlogging with Sony A580
27
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than others (155 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-06 2011-05-26
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.90 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 gr (0.34 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
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 Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One Dual
Retail pricing $182 $848