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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Introduced July 2009
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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic FP8 versus Sony A550, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP8 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very comparable but the FP8 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The FP8 was introduced 4 months earlier than the A550 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the FP8 grades against the A550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony A550

 FP8 A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic FP8

 A550 FP8 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A550

 FP8 A550 
LaunchedJuly 2009December 2009Same age
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP8 enjoys outside measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FP8 versus Sony A550 in our completely new 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 have at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the FP8 vs the A550.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The picture here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FP8 and A550.

All in all, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP8 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A550 will show extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography features
Sony A550 Portrait photography features
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP8
Street photography with Sony A550
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than average in class (151g)
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP8
Sports photography with Sony A550
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP8
Travel photography with Sony A550
56
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (151g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
52
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (480 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP8
Landscape photography with Sony A550
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
66
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging highlights
Sony A550 Vlogging highlights
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (151g)
9
can't record video
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-27 2009-12-09
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151 gr (0.33 lbs) 632 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
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/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $300 $749