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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 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 A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced April 2010
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A850, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the FP8 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FP8 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor size.

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The FP8 was unveiled 8 months prior to the A850 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FP8 scores vs the A850 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony A850

 FP8 A850 

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FP8

 A850 FP8 
AnnouncedApril 2010July 2009Fresher by 8 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A850

 FP8 A850 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP8 features outside measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP8 and Sony A850 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the FP8 vs the A850.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FP8 and A850 is 95 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP8 and A850.

As you can tell, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FP8 using its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A850 will produce more detail having an extra 13MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older FP8 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FP8
Portrait photography with Sony A850
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Street photography features
Sony A850 Street photography features
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than others (151g)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography factors
Sony A850 Sports photography factors
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count fantastic (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Travel photography highlights
Sony A850 Travel photography highlights
56
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (151 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
55
weather proofing
megapixel count fantastic (25MP)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP8
Landscape photography with Sony A850
32
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count fantastic (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
does not have liveview
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging information
Sony A850 Vlogging information
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than others (151 grams)
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-27 2010-04-15
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 25MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250s
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 file format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151g (0.33 lbs) 895g (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 shots
Battery style - 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 Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots 1 2
Pricing at launch $300 $0