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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump 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 RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Updated by Sony RX100 II
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") possess different sensor size.

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The FS12 was announced 4 years earlier than the RX100 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the FS12 grades versus the RX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony RX100

 FS12 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Panasonic FS12

 RX100 FS12 
AnnouncedAugust 2012April 2009Fresher by 40 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony RX100

 FS12 RX100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS12 offers outside dimensions 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 RX100 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the FS12 vs the RX100.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS12 and RX100 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The graphic below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and RX100.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS12 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony RX100 will give greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The older FS12 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
21
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
64
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than average (240g)
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography info
Sony RX100 Sports photography info
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS12
Travel photography with Sony RX100
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
79
lighter than average (240g)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS12
Landscape photography with Sony RX100
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging details
Sony RX100 Vlogging details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic port
38
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (240g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony RX100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-04-17 2012-08-28
Body design Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 31-124mm (4.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129 grams (0.28 lb) 240 grams (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 390
Other
Battery life - 330 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $228 $448