Panasonic FX48 vs Sony A290

Following is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic FX48 versus Sony A290, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FX48 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly similar but the FX48 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The FX48 was announced 16 months prior to the A290 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FX48 grades against the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FX48 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FX48 has got exterior dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FX48 versus Sony A290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the FX48 against the A290.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FX48 and A290 is 95 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FX48 and A290.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FX48 having a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony A290 will offer you greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged FX48 is going to be behind in sensor technology.