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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FS15 (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the FS15 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The FS15 was brought out 18 months earlier than the A390 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the FS15 matches up versus the A390 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony A390

 FS15 A390 

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Panasonic FS15

 A390 FS15 
AnnouncedJuly 2010January 2009More modern by 18 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony A390

 FS15 A390 
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic FS15 has outer measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the FS15 and the A390.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FS15 and A390 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The image here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS15 and A390.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FS15 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A390 will provide more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged FS15 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
Portrait photography with Sony A390
20
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography features
Sony A390 Street photography features
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
76
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography highlights
Sony A390 Sports photography highlights
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low battery (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography advice
Sony A390 Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
53
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS15
Vlogging with Sony A390
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
9
can't record video
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony A390
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-01-16 2010-07-28
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
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum 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 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 grams (0.30 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
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 All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $180 $500