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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 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
  • Introduced January 2010
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A850, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the FP3 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FP3 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The FP3 was released 3 months before the A850 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FP3 scores versus the A850 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony A850

 FP3 A850 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FP3

 A850 FP3 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A850

 FP3 A850 
IntroducedJanuary 2010April 2010Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP3 provides outside 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) while the Sony A850 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A850 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the FP3 against the A850.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP3 and A850 is 95 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing specs. The image below may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP3 and A850.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A850 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 11MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography info
Sony A850 Portrait photography info
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
72
focusing manually
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP3
Street photography with Sony A850
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competition (155g)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Sports photography highlights
Sony A850 Sports photography highlights
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Travel photography info
Sony A850 Travel photography info
60
offers focus by touch
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (155g)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
weather proofing
sensor resolution is excellent (25MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography information
Sony A850 Landscape photography information
37
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
no liveview
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging highlights
Sony A850 Vlogging highlights
27
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
more heavy than competition (155 grams)
9
no video
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-06 2010-04-15
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
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 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.90 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250s
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155g (0.34 lb) 895g (1.97 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One Two
Price at launch $182 $0