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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
55
Overall
47

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed April 2009
Sony HX200V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 27-810mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 583g - 122 x 87 x 93mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX100V
  • Successor is Sony HX300
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX200V, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and HX200V (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was introduced 4 years before the HX200V and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX200V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the FS12 grades versus the HX200V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony HX200V

 FS12 HX200V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX200V over the Panasonic FS12

 HX200V FS12 
RevealedMay 2012April 2009Fresher by 37 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX200V

 FS12 HX200V 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS12 comes with physical dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony HX200V has proportions of 122mm x 87mm x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7") having a weight of 583 grams (1.29 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX200V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the FS12 vs the HX200V.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS12 and HX200V is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS12 and HX200V.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX200V to produce greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older FS12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography info
Sony HX200V Portrait photography info
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
45
manual focus
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX200V as a Street photography camera
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
51
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competitors (583 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX200V as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
56
amazing zoom range (27-810mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
good battery pack (450 shots)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS12
Travel photography with Sony HX200V
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
good battery pack (450 CIPA)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (27mm)
long reach (810mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (583g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX200V as a Landscape photography camera
28
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
really wide (27mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
good battery pack (450 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging factors
Sony HX200V Vlogging factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic socket
27
really wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
heavier than competitors (583g)
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX200V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX200V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-04-17 2012-05-11
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) 27-810mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 12.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear 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
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129 gr (0.28 pounds) 583 gr (1.29 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 122 x 87 x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7")
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 - 450 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $228 $480