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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 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 W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Panasonic FP8 and Sony W650, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the FP8 (12MP) and W650 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FP8 was released 3 years before the W650 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the FP8 grades vs the W650 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony W650

 FP8 W650 

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Panasonic FP8

 W650 FP8 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2009More recent by 29 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony W650

 FP8 W650 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP8 enjoys outer measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony W650 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FP8 and Sony W650 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the FP8 and the W650.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and W650 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FP8 and W650.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony W650 to give you greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older FP8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography information
Sony W650 Portrait photography information
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
34
MP count good (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Street photography highlights
Sony W650 Street photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than average in class (151 grams)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (124g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography features
Sony W650 Sports photography features
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP8
Travel photography with Sony W650
56
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (151g)
MP count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than others (124 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W650 as a Landscape photography camera
32
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
43
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging features
Sony W650 Vlogging features
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (151g)
33
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than others (124 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony W650
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-07-27 2012-01-10
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine V BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/1300s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151g (0.33 pounds) 124g (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $300 $140