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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Panasonic FP7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 147g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Announced January 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic FP7 versus Sony A500, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the FP7 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the FP7 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The FP7 was brought out 17 months later than the A500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FP7 grades versus the A500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Sony A500

 FP7 A500 
ReleasedJanuary 2011August 2009Fresher by 17 months
Display dimension3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic FP7

 A500 FP7 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FP7 and Sony A500

 FP7 A500 
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP7 comes with external measurements 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 A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FP7 versus Sony A500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the FP7 against the A500.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FP7 and A500 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at technical specs. The visual here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FP7 and A500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FP7 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic FP7 will give extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger FP7 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Portrait photography features
Sony A500 Portrait photography features
34
MP count decent (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP7
Street photography with Sony A500
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (147g)
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Sports photography information
Sony A500 Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery life (240 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP7
Travel photography with Sony A500
63
better than average battery life (240 per charge)
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (147 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
43
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (520 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Landscape photography advice
Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
41
very good size screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (240 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
29
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (147 grams)
9
no video
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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP7 and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2009-08-27
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 dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 147 gr (0.32 lb) 630 gr (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 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 240 images 520 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $227 $638