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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic FP7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 147g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Released 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
  • Released December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP7 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the FP7 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The FP7 was brought out 14 months after the A550 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the FP7 scores versus the A550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Sony A550

 FP7 A550 
ReleasedJanuary 2011December 2009More modern by 14 months
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic FP7

 A550 FP7 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP7 and Sony A550

 FP7 A550 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FP7 features exterior measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the FP7 versus the A550.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the FP7 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FP7 and A550.

As you can see, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP7 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic FP7 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger FP7 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Portrait photography advice
Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch focus
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competitors (147g)
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP7
Sports photography with Sony A550
44
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
good battery (240 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery life (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
63
good battery (240 per charge)
supports touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (147g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (480 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
41
bigger than average screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good battery (240 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
66
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
not so great battery life (480 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
29
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (147 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP7 and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2009-12-09
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 147g (0.32 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Physical 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 score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 240 shots 480 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $227 $749