Panasonic FS25 vs Sony A580

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic FS25 versus Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the FS25 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the FS25 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The FS25 was introduced 3 years before the A580 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS25 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FS25 grades vs the A580 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS25 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS25 enjoys exterior dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FS25 versus Sony A580 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FS25 compared to the A580.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FS25 and A580 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS25 and A580.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FS25 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A580 will result in more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The older FS25 will be behind in sensor tech.