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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Revealed July 2009
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A200
  • New Model is Sony A290
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A230, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP8 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the FP8 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The FP8 was unveiled 3 months later than the A230 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FP8 grades against the A230 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony A230

 FP8 A230 

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Panasonic FP8

 A230 FP8 
Manually focus More exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A230

 FP8 A230 
AnnouncedJuly 2009May 2009Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP8 has outer dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A230 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the FP8 versus the A230.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FP8 and A230 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specs. The visual below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP8 and A230.

All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FP8 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic FP8 will resolve greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography details
Sony A230 Portrait photography details
21
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Street photography details
Sony A230 Street photography details
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competition (151 grams)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography information
Sony A230 Sports photography information
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Travel photography features
Sony A230 Travel photography features
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (151 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
45
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Landscape photography information
Sony A230 Landscape photography information
32
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
51
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (151 grams)
9
can't record video
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony A230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-27 2009-05-18
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151g (0.33 lbs) 490g (1.08 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 63
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 230 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $300 $569