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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
25
Overall
31

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise 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 W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic FS12 versus Sony W230, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FS12 (12MP) and the W230 (12MP) is pretty close and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was launched 2 months after the W230 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the FS12 scores against the W230 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony W230

 FS12 W230 

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Panasonic FS12

 W230 FS12 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony W230

 FS12 W230 
LaunchedApril 2009February 2009Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS12 comes with physical measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony W230 has measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS12 versus Sony W230 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the FS12 versus the W230.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and W230 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS12 and W230.

Clearly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of pictures though you should really consider the age of the cameras into account.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography advice
Sony W230 Portrait photography advice
21
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography information
Sony W230 Street photography information
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
Sports photography with Sony W230
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography information
Sony W230 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography info
Sony W230 Landscape photography info
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
37
manual focus
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony W230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-04-17 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
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 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to 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
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 31-124mm (4.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129g (0.28 pounds) 156g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $228 $180