Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A230

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A230, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the FP7 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the FP7 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The FP7 was released 20 months later than the A230 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FP7 grades versus the A230 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic FP7 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FP7 enjoys physical dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the FP7 versus the A230.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP7 and A230 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Quite often, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP7 and A230.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FP7 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FP7 will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent FP7 will have an advantage in sensor technology.