Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850

In this article, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FP7 and Sony A850, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the FP7 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FP7 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) feature different sensor sizing.

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The FP7 was released 9 months later than the A850 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the FP7 scores versus the A850 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic FP7 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP7 has physical measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FP7 and Sony A850 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the FP7 versus the A850.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP7 and A850 is 95 and 54 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FP7 and A850.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FP7 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A850 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent FP7 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.