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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 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
  • Announced July 2009
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony A100
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A580, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the FP8 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the FP8 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The FP8 was announced 22 months prior to the A580 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the FP8 matches up against the A580 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony A580

 FP8 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic FP8

 A580 FP8 
LaunchedMay 2011July 2009More recent by 22 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A580

 FP8 A580 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP8 has exterior measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the FP8 and the A580.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and A580 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The graphic below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FP8 and A580.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FP8 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A580 will offer you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older FP8 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FP8
Portrait photography with Sony A580
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Street photography details
Sony A580 Street photography details
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than others (151g)
75
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography features
Sony A580 Sports photography features
24
image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
56
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (151 grams)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
good battery life (1,050 per charge)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Landscape photography advice
Sony A580 Landscape photography advice
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (1,050 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging features
Sony A580 Vlogging features
28
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than others (151 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-07-27 2011-05-26
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.50 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 151 gr (0.33 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
Physical 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 Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 photographs
Battery format - 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 card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Cost at release $300 $848