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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FS15 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty close but the FS15 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The FS15 was revealed 16 months before the A290 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FS15 scores versus the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony A290

 FS15 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic FS15

 A290 FS15 
IntroducedJune 2010January 2009More modern by 16 months
Manual focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony A290

 FS15 A290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS15 has got outside dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the FS15 vs the A290.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FS15 and A290 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing technical specs. The pic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS15 and A290.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FS15 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A290 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FS15 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography details
Sony A290 Portrait photography details
20
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
65
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography advice
Sony A290 Street photography advice
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography information
Sony A290 Sports photography information
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low battery life (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
53
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (290 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography info
Sony A290 Landscape photography info
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
doesn't have liveview
low battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging features
Sony A290 Vlogging features
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
9
no video recording
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-16 2010-06-09
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 grams (0.30 lb) 549 grams (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $180 $600