Canon PowerShot N vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5: A Hands-On Comparison for Everyday Photographers

When choosing a compact camera in today’s saturated market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by specs and marketing buzz alone. Having thoroughly tested hundreds of cameras over 15 years, I know the value lies in how a camera performs in real-world scenarios across diverse photography styles and use cases. Today, we pit two compact small-sensor cameras head to head: the Canon PowerShot N and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. Both appeal primarily to casual shooters and enthusiasts seeking a pocketable solution, but each offers distinct advantages and trade-offs.

In this detailed comparison, I’ll guide you through their core technologies, handling, image quality, and suitability for various photography pursuits - from portraits and landscapes to travel and video. You’ll come away with clear recommendations tailored to your shooting style, budget, and creative ambitions.

Understanding the Cameras at a Glance: Size and Handling

Both the Canon N and Panasonic FH5 come from the small sensor compact segment, but their dimensions and ergonomics differ notably:

The Canon PowerShot N sports an intriguing boxy shape with a unique square silhouette. It’s thicker and heavier, but you gain a tilting touchscreen that improves framing at creative angles. The Panasonic FH5, meanwhile, is significantly lighter and sleeker, emphasizing pocketability.

Why it matters:
If you want an ultra-light camera to slip into your jacket pocket for spontaneous street photography or travel, the Panasonic FH5 wins on portability. But if you prioritize user interface versatility and an articulated screen for selfies or top-down shots, the Canon N’s touchscreen tilting panel stands out.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive or Minimalist?

Both cameras avoid complex dials or extensive buttons, focusing on everyday simplicity.

The Canon N relies heavily on its touchscreen, which supports simple tap-to-focus and touch-based navigation. Meanwhile, the Panasonic FH5 adopts a more traditional physical button layout without touchscreen support, which some users might prefer for tactile feedback, especially outdoors or in gloves.

Our take:
If you enjoy a touchscreen experience for quick menu dives and focus adjustments, the Canon N offers a fresh approach. However, some photographers prefer the predictability and responsiveness of physical controls, where the Panasonic FH5 is well-mannered and straightforward, especially in bright sunlight where touchscreens can struggle.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Heart of the Camera

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch sensor, a common size in compact cameras that balances size and cost but has physical limits compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors. However, the Canon uses a 12MP CMOS sensor, while the Panasonic packs a 16MP CCD sensor:

The CMOS sensor in the Canon N benefits from the more modern DIGIC 5 processor, which accelerates image processing and noise reduction. The Panasonic FH5’s CCD sensor historically delivers excellent color rendition but tends to struggle more with noise at higher ISO settings, especially in low light.

Real-world observations:

• The Canon N’s CMOS sensor, paired with DIGIC 5, struggles less with high ISO noise. It produces cleaner images in dim environments, better suited to indoor or evening shooting.
• The Panasonic FH5’s higher megapixel count delivers sharper details in well-lit conditions, making it slightly better for daylight landscapes or prints that benefit from higher resolution.

Viewing and Interface: How You See Your Shot

Both cameras forgo electronic viewfinders, relying solely on their rear LCD screens for composition.

The Canon’s high-resolution tilting touchscreen offers more flexibility and visibility for creative framing - whether you’re shooting low to the ground or holding the camera overhead for group shots.

Conversely, the Panasonic’s fixed 230k LCD is more limited, with narrower viewing angles and no touch interface.

This difference plays a crucial role in user experience, especially if you rely on live view for composing tricky shots or prefer touchscreen responsiveness for swift focus adjustments.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus technologies distinguish the two cameras quite sharply:

The Panasonic’s 11-point AF system with face detection and tracking is impressive for such a compact camera - it helps maintain focus on moving subjects, essential for casual action, kids, or pets. The Canon N lacks these features and offers only rudimentary contrast detection AF without face detection.

Canon’s single shot autofocus might be slightly slower and more prone to focus hunting in low contrast scenarios.

Burst shooting speeds further illustrate differences: Panasonic FH5 can shoot at roughly 4 frames per second, twice the Canon N’s modest 2 fps, enabling better capture of fleeting moments.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Ability

Both cameras include optical image stabilization despite sensor size constraints, a useful feature for handheld shooting.

The Canon N’s CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 processor combo better handle noise reduction at elevated ISO values, delivering usable images at ISO 800 to 1600. The Panasonic’s CCD sensor, while delivering excellent color, shows higher noise from ISO 400 upwards.

Lens and Zoom Versatility: Reach and Aperture

The Canon offers a longer zoom range compared to the Panasonic:

Canon’s longer zoom gives you more reach for wildlife or casual telephoto needs, but aperture narrows significantly at the long end. The Panasonic’s lens is less versatile zoom-wise but has a wider maximum aperture at the wide angle, slightly improving low-light and depth-of-field control.

The Canon’s macro mode is notably closer focusing (1 cm), which provides better close-up options without needing extension tubes or accessories.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photography

Neither camera is primarily designed for advanced video, but both offer basic HD options:

Video quality favors Canon here with Full HD 1080p capture and more natural video compression in H.264 codec. Panasonic limits HD to 720p, which is lower resolution by today’s standards.

Slow motion capture on Canon is a niche feature shooting very low-res frames at high frame rates - not suitable for serious videography but fun for casual experimentation.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Usage Considerations

The Panasonic FH5 offers a somewhat better battery life, enough to sustain a day trip or extended shooting. Canon’s battery capacity is average but will require spares for heavy use.

Both cameras use widely available memory card types, but the Canon requires microSD cards, which tend to be smaller and sometimes slower.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summarized: Who Excels Where?

How Do They Perform Across Photography Genres?

With the technical specs and field tests in mind, here’s a breakdown considering common photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

Canon N’s better low-light performance and longer zoom allow flattering headshots with background blur (though limited by sensor size). Lack of face detection hampers focusing on eyes or faces quickly.

Panasonic FH5’s face detection is handy for casual portraits but limited aperture and noisy shadows at high ISO reduce portrait quality in darker settings.

Landscape Photography

Panasonic’s 16MP sensor captures more detail for expansive scenes, with cleaner daylight images. Canon’s dynamic range and lower resolution are adequate but less crisp.

Neither has weather sealing, so consider conditions carefully.

Wildlife Photography

Canon’s 8x zoom gives more reach; however, both struggle with autofocus speed. Panasonic’s AF tracking helps but lens reach is more limited.

Sports Photography

Low burst speed (max 4 fps) limits action capture. Panasonic’s face tracking assists, but neither is designed for serious sports.

Street Photography

Panasonic’s compact, lightweight build and silent operation edge it for discreet shooting. Canon’s bulk and slower response hinder candid shots.

Macro Photography

Canon wins here with 1cm macro focusing distance, enabling close-up details without external gear. Panasonic is limited to 5cm.

Night/Astro Photography

Canon outperforms Panasonic at high ISO, yielding cleaner night images. Neither supports manual exposure modes, restricting astrophotography.

Video

Canon’s 1080p video is preferable for casual content creators; Panasonic is limited to 720p. Neither offers advanced audio or external ports.

Travel

Panasonic is superior for travelers needing a lightweight, pocketable camera with decent autofocus ease of use. Canon is suitable if zoom, touchscreen flexibility, and video are priorities over size.

Professional Work

Both cameras fall short of pro standards - not supporting RAW, manual exposure modes, or fast AF systems. They better serve as convenient secondary cameras or point-and-shoot solutions for casual professional backup.

Sample Images Reveal Real-World Output

Looking at side-by-side photos taken in diverse conditions, you’ll notice:

• Canon images are warmer with controlled noise in shadows.
• Panasonic photos show slightly higher resolution but noisier low-light performance.
• Autofocus accuracy is tighter on Panasonic for faces and moving subjects.

Canon N front Canon N screen back Panasonic FH5 front Panasonic FH5 screen back

Overall Scores and Performance Assessment

To place these cameras in perspective, based on extensive hands-on analysis:

The Canon PowerShot N scores higher on image quality and video capability, while the Panasonic FH5 excels in burst speed, AF sophistication, and portability.

Which Camera Fits Which User?

Final Thoughts: Making the Choice

Neither the Canon PowerShot N nor the Panasonic Lumix FH5 reinvents the wheel, but they each carve out a niche for certain users looking for functional, budget-friendly compacts. If you prioritize video, touchscreen operation, longer zoom, and better low-light images, the Canon PowerShot N is worth a closer look. However, if weight, fast autofocus with face tracking, and image resolution in bright light lead your checklist, the Panasonic FH5 delivers strong value.

Both are excellent entry points into photography with intuitive interfaces for beginners, yet carry compromises common to small sensor compacts. For serious enthusiasts, these cameras can serve as charming travel companions or convenient secondary shooters.

Next Steps: How to Explore Further

• Try Before You Buy: Visit a camera store to hold each camera. Experience their ergonomics and menu navigation firsthand.
• Test in Your Favorite Situations: If possible, borrow or rent to shoot outdoors, indoors, and in mixed lighting.
• Consider Lens Limitations: Since both have fixed zoom lenses, plan accessories accordingly if you want extended reach or macro capabilities.
• Look at Your Workflow: Both produce JPEG-only files - evaluate if that suits your editing preferences.
• Check Battery and Storage Needs: Carry extra batteries and SD or microSD cards to avoid interruptions.

As you embark on your creative journey, remember that mastering photography depends more on practice and understanding light than solely gear. These cameras provide accessible tools to hone your skills and capture memorable moments with ease.

I hope this comprehensive breakdown helps you find the ideal compact camera that fuels your artistic adventure. Feel free to explore additional optics, accessories, and presets tailored to your chosen device. Happy shooting!