Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A55

The following is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A55, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the FP8 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the FP8 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The FP8 was announced 13 months prior to the A55 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the FP8 matches up vs the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 and Sony SLT-A55. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FP8 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP8 has got outside measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FP8 vs Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the FP8 versus the A55.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and A55 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Often, its hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FP8 and A55.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FP8 having a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony A55 will render extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged FP8 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.