Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony A58

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony A58, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FZ80 (18MP) and the A58 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the FZ80 (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The FZ80 was brought out 3 years after the A58 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the FZ80 scores versus the A58 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Sony SLT-A58. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FZ80 Gallery and Sony A58 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ80 provides outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") and a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) while the Sony A58 has measurements of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") having a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony A58 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FZ80 and the A58.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ80 and A58 is 63 and 68 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ80 and A58.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FZ80 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A58 will give you more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more recent FZ80 should have an edge in sensor tech.