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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 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 A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony A6500, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the FP3 (14MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the FP3 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The FP3 was introduced 7 years earlier than the A6500 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the FP3 grades vs the A6500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony A6500

 FP3 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic FP3

 A6500 FP3 
LaunchedOctober 2016January 2010Fresher by 82 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony A6500

 FP3 A6500 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP3 has got outside 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) while the Sony A6500 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony A6500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the FP3 vs the A6500.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP3 and A6500 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FP3 and A6500.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FP3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A6500 will offer you greater detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The older FP3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography details
Sony A6500 Portrait photography details
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
80
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than others in class (155g)
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
includes touch focus
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Sports photography info
Sony A6500 Sports photography info
34
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
77
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
not so great battery power (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP3
Travel photography with Sony A6500
60
features touch to focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (155g)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
74
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
includes touch focus
good MP (24MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography details
Sony A6500 Landscape photography details
37
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery power (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging info
Sony A6500 Vlogging info
27
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
heavier than others in class (155g)
39
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-01-06 2016-10-06
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 425
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.90 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 155g (0.34 lbs) 453g (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life - 350 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $182 $1,298