Panasonic FP3 vs Sony TX66 Comparison

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Panasonic FP3

14 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

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Sony TX66

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony TX66 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing FP3 and TX66, two Ultracompact cameras from Panasonic and Sony. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Panasonic FP3 has a 14.0 MP and Sony TX66 has a 18.0 MP resolution. Panasonic FP3 was introduced to market in January 2010 and Sony TX66 was launched in February 2012. As you can see, FP3 is 2 years older than TX66. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic FP3 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2010-01-06

14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

35-140 mm F3.5-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

5 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

155g. 99 x 59 x 19 mm

Sony TX66 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-02-28

18MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 12800

26-130 mm F3.5-4.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.3" Fixed Type Screen

10 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

109g. 93 x 54 x 13 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66

Focal Length - Tele	140mm vs 130mm	10 mm longer tele reach
Flash Coverage	4.9m vs 3.1m	1.8m longer range

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	18 MP vs 14 MP	28% more pixels
Max ISO	12.800 vs 6.400	100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size	3.3" vs 3"	0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	1.230k dots vs 230k dots	434% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 5.0fps	5 fps faster
Weight	109 g vs 155 g	46 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide	26mm vs 35mm	9 mm wider coverage
Optical Zoom	5× vs 4×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele	4.80 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 3.3"	Large display

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony TX66: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic FP3 has external dimensions of 99 x 59 x 19 mm (3.9 x 2.32 x 0.75″) and weighs 155 g (0.34 lb / 5.47 oz) (including batteries). Sony TX66 has external dimensions of 93 x 54 x 13 mm (3.66 x 2.13 x 0.51″) and weighs 109 g (0.24 lb / 3.84 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66. Sony TX66 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 6mm narrower, 5mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Panasonic FP3.

Comparison image of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66.

Comparison image of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66.

Top View Comparison image of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony TX66 is significantly lighter (46g ) than the Panasonic FP3 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

FP3

TX66

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

FP3

TX66

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony TX66's 3.3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic FP3's 3" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony TX66: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic FP3 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine IV processor. On the other hand, Sony TX66 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features BIONZ processor.

Below you can see the FP3 and TX66 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 Cameras

Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony TX66 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic FP3 features a 35-140 mm F3.5-5.9 4× zoom lens whereas Sony TX66 features a 26-130 mm F3.5-4.8 5× zoom lens.

Sony TX66 has 9mm wider coverage than the Panasonic FP3. Both cameras has a max aperture of f3.50 at the wide end. On the tele end, Panasonic FP3 has 10mm longer reach than the Sony TX66. However, with a max aperture of f4.80, Sony TX66 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

FP3

TX66

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

FP3

TX66

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

FP3

TX66

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

FP3

TX66

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic FP3 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic FP3 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Sony TX66 for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Panasonic FP3 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
140 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
130 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Read the details

Panasonic FP3 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony TX66 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
155g
Body Thickness 19mm
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
109g
Body Thickness 13mm
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic FP3 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony TX66: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic FP3 and Sony TX66 scores compare:

Panasonic FP3

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #66 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #975 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Sony TX66

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #8 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #596 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Sony TX66 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Panasonic FP3 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony TX66 vs Panasonic FP3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
Brand	Panasonic	Sony
Announced	2010-01-06	2012-02-28
Body Type	Ultracompact	Ultracompact
Sensor
Type	CCD	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	27.72mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	14 megapixels	18 megapixels
Max Resolution	4320 x 3240	4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	35-140 mm (4×)	26-130 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.5-5.9	F3.5-4.8
Macro Focus Range	10cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3.3"
Resolution	230k dots	1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/1600s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.90 m	3.10 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	5.0 fps	10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	155g	109g
Dimensions	99 x 59 x 19mm	93 x 54 x 13mm
Battery Life	n/a	250 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction