Panasonic FS25 vs Sony A850

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic FS25 vs Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the FS25 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FS25 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The FS25 was revealed 14 months before the A850 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS25 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the FS25 matches up vs the A850 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS25 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS25 has exterior dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FS25 vs Sony A850 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the FS25 versus the A850.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FS25 and A850 is 95 and 54 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FS25 and A850.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FS25 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A850 will give more detail because of its extra 13 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older FS25 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.