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Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850

Portability
59
Imaging
36
Features
73
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
60
Overall
63

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Superseded the Panasonic FZ200
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the FZ300 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FZ300 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The FZ300 was unveiled 5 years later than the A850 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the FZ300 matches up against the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Sony A850

 FZ300 A850 
RevealedJuly 2015April 2010More recent by 64 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k922kCrisper display (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic FZ300

 A850 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Sony A850

 FZ300 A850 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ300 comes with exterior measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) and the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the FZ300 and the A850.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ300 and A850 is 59 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ300 and A850.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FZ300 having a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A850 will render more detail having an extra 13 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent FZ300 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ300
Portrait photography with Sony A850
45
focusing manually
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
71
manual focus
MP count great (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Street photography camera
Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
58
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather proof
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (691g)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
high shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
great battery life (380 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography features
Sony A850 Travel photography features
58
great battery life (380 per charge)
weather proof
features focus by touch
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
more heavy than competition (691 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
weather proofing
MP count great (25MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography info
Sony A850 Landscape photography info
52
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
great battery life (380 per charge)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
72
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
61
decently wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition (691g)
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-07-16 2010-04-15
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/16000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 691 grams (1.52 lbs) 895 grams (1.97 lbs)
Dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 380 photos 880 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots One Dual
Launch pricing $598 $0