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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 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
  • Launched April 2009
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic FS12 and Sony H55, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FS12 (12MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty close and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was announced 14 months earlier than the H55 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FS12 grades vs the H55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony H55

 FS12 H55 

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Panasonic FS12

 H55 FS12 
LaunchedJune 2010April 2009More recent by 14 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony H55

 FS12 H55 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS12 offers outside measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony H55 has sizing of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FS12 and Sony H55 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the FS12 versus the H55.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and H55 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to see the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS12 and H55.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony H55 to render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older FS12 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
Portrait photography with Sony H55
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography factors
Sony H55 Street photography factors
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography details
Sony H55 Sports photography details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography info
Sony H55 Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography information
Sony H55 Landscape photography information
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging highlights
Sony H55 Vlogging highlights
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic support
28
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony H55
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-04-17 2010-06-16
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (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 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 129 gr (0.28 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $228 $235