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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic FP5 and Sony A550, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly close but the FP5 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The FP5 was brought out 14 months after the A550 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the FP5 scores vs the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Sony A550

 FP5 A550 
RevealedJanuary 2011December 2009Newer by 14 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic FP5

 A550 FP5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Sony A550

 FP5 A550 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP5 offers physical measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FP5 and Sony A550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the FP5 vs the A550.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FP5 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by researching specs. The picture underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FP5 and A550.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The FP5 has the smaller sensor which will make achieving bokeh harder. The newer FP5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
72
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP5
Street photography with Sony A550
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP5
Sports photography with Sony A550
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
good battery pack (260 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
65
good battery pack (260 CIPA)
offers focus via touch
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
52
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography details
Sony A550 Landscape photography details
40
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
good battery pack (260 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
66
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
30
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2009-12-09
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 141g (0.31 lb) 632g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 260 shots 480 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $199 $749