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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Announced January 2019
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Panasonic FS12 and Sony A6400, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and A6400 (24MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and A6400 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The FS12 was released 10 years earlier than the A6400 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FS12 grades against the A6400 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony A6400

 FS12 A6400 

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Panasonic FS12

 A6400 FS12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2019April 2009Fresher by 118 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony A6400

 FS12 A6400 

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS12 has got external dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony A6400 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") and a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS12 and Sony A6400 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FS12 against the A6400.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and A6400 is 95 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by going over specifications. The visual below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and A6400.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS12 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A6400 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older FS12 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
Portrait photography with Sony A6400
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
82
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS12
Street photography with Sony A6400
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
81
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather sealing
great high ISO (32,000)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
Sports photography with Sony A6400
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
76
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
87
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS12
Landscape photography with Sony A6400
28
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (32,000)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging factors
Sony A6400 Vlogging factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone port
80
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
supports face detection focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic support
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony A6400
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Alpha a6400
Class Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-04-17 2019-01-15
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
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 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 32000
Highest boosted ISO 6400 102400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 425
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 129 grams (0.28 lbs) 403 grams (0.89 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 83
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1431
Other
Battery life - 410 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $228 $898