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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Sony A850

 FP7 A850 
LaunchedJanuary 2011April 2010Fresher by 9 months
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FP7

 A850 FP7 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP7 and Sony A850

 FP7 A850 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 size comparison

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

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Portrait photography info
Sony A850 Portrait photography info
34
MP count good (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
focusing manually
MP count excellent (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Street photography info
Sony A850 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than average in class (147g)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP7
Sports photography with Sony A850
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (240 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
63
better than average battery (240 per charge)
boasts focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (147 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
environment sealing
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP7
Landscape photography with Sony A850
41
lovely big screen (3.5")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (240 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
doesn't have liveview
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
29
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (147g)
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic FP7 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP7 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2010-04-15
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 25MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Touch Screen LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.90 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 147g (0.32 lb) 895g (1.97 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 240 shots 880 shots
Battery form 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 Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail cost $227 $0