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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Introduced January 2009
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Replaced the Sony A6300
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FS15 versus Sony A6500, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The FS15 was unveiled 8 years prior to the A6500 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the FS15 matches up versus the A6500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony A6500

 FS15 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic FS15

 A6500 FS15 
LaunchedOctober 2016January 2009Fresher by 94 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony A6500

 FS15 A6500 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS15 features outside measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS15 versus Sony A6500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the FS15 against the A6500.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS15 and A6500 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through specs. The visual underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FS15 and A6500.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS15 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A6500 will render more detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older FS15 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
20
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
80
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography features
Sony A6500 Street photography features
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography factors
Sony A6500 Sports photography factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
77
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography factors
Sony A6500 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
74
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
bad battery power (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery power (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging factors
Sony A6500 Vlogging factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone port
39
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-01-16 2016-10-06
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 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Max boosted ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 425
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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 data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 136 gr (0.30 pounds) 453 gr (1.00 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life - 350 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $180 $1,298