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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 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
  • Launched July 2009
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP8 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly similar but the FP8 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FP8 was released 10 months earlier than the A290 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the FP8 matches up vs the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony A290

 FP8 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic FP8

 A290 FP8 
AnnouncedJune 2010July 2009More recent by 10 months
Manually focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A290

 FP8 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP8 offers physical measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the FP8 against the A290.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the FP8 and A290 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP8 and A290.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FP8 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A290 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The older FP8 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography information
Sony A290 Portrait photography information
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP8
Street photography with Sony A290
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competitors (151 grams)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography details
Sony A290 Sports photography details
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Travel photography details
Sony A290 Travel photography details
56
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (151g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP8
Landscape photography with Sony A290
32
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging details
Sony A290 Vlogging details
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
heavier than competitors (151 grams)
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-07-27 2010-06-09
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
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 surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 151 grams (0.33 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $300 $600