Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A350

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A350, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the A350 (14MP) is very similar but the FP5 (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The FP5 was launched 2 years after the A350 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the FP5 matches up versus the A350 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A350. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FP5 Gallery & Sony A350 Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP5 features outside measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Sony A350 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A350 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the FP5 vs the A350.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FP5 and A350 is 95 and 62 respectively.

Normally, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The image below may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP5 and A350.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The FP5 has got the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more modern FP5 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.