Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX7V

Below is a extensive review of the Panasonic FS15 versus Sony HX7V, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and HX7V (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The FS15 was revealed 3 years prior to the HX7V and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FS15 grades against the HX7V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FS15 Gallery & Sony HX7V Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS15 features outer dimensions 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 HX7V has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS15 versus Sony HX7V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the FS15 and the HX7V.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS15 and HX7V is 95 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS15 and HX7V.

To sum up, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX7V to result in extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older FS15 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.