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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released February 2009
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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic FP5 versus Sony W230, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the W230 (12MP) is relatively close and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FP5 was revealed 23 months later than the W230 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the FP5 matches up against the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Sony W230

 FP5 W230 
ReleasedJanuary 2011February 2009Fresher by 23 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Panasonic FP5

 W230 FP5 
Manually focus More precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Sony W230

 FP5 W230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP5 has external dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Sony W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FP5 versus Sony W230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the FP5 vs the W230.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FP5 and W230 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The visual here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP5 and W230.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Panasonic FP5 to provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent FP5 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FP5
Portrait photography with Sony W230
33
good MP (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Street photography features
Sony W230 Street photography features
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP5
Sports photography with Sony W230
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
great battery life (260 shots)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
65
great battery life (260 per charge)
provides touch focus
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
40
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
great battery life (260 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
36
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Vlogging features
Sony W230 Vlogging features
30
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Sony W230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-05 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance 10cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 lbs) 156g (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $199 $180