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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Launched January 2011
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A330
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FP5 (14MP) and A300 (10MP) and the FP5 (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The FP5 was launched 2 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the FP5 matches up against the A300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Sony A300

 FP5 A300 
IntroducedJanuary 2011January 2008More recent by 36 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Panasonic FP5

 A300 FP5 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Sony A300

 FP5 A300 
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FP5 features exterior measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Sony A300 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FP5 vs the A300.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP5 and A300 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FP5 and A300.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FP5 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic FP5 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more recent FP5 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A300 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Street photography details
Sony A300 Street photography details
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP5
Sports photography with Sony A300
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking focus
good battery pack (260 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
54
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Travel photography highlights
Sony A300 Travel photography highlights
65
good battery pack (260 CIPA)
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
45
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP5
Landscape photography with Sony A300
40
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (260 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
57
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FP5
Vlogging with Sony A300
30
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
9
no video
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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Sony A300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-01-05 2008-01-30
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.90 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141 grams (0.31 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 538
Other
Battery life 260 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $199 $0