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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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 A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Introduced January 2019
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and A6400 (24MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and A6400 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The FS15 was manufactured 11 years before the A6400 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the FS15 scores vs the A6400 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony A6400

 FS15 A6400 

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Panasonic FS15

 A6400 FS15 
IntroducedJanuary 2019January 2009Fresher by 121 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony A6400

 FS15 A6400 

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS15 provides outer dimensions 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 A6400 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") and a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the FS15 compared to the A6400.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS15 and A6400 is 95 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FS15 and A6400.

Plainly, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS15 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A6400 will show extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older FS15 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography information
Sony A6400 Portrait photography information
21
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
81
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography factors
Sony A6400 Street photography factors
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
81
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
weather proof
good ISO range (32,000)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography factors
Sony A6400 Sports photography factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS15
Travel photography with Sony A6400
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
87
weather proof
has bluetooth
has touch focus
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Landscape photography camera
28
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (32,000)
supports RAW files
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging info
Sony A6400 Vlogging info
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external mic port
80
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has mic jack
does not have image stabilization
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony A6400
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha a6400
Type Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2009-01-16 2019-01-15
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 32000
Max enhanced ISO 6400 102400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 425
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 136g (0.30 pounds) 403g (0.89 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 83
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1431
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $180 $898