FujiFilm F800EXR vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20: A Hands-On Superzoom Showdown You Can Trust

Selecting the right camera in the highly competitive small sensor superzoom category can be daunting, especially when juggling budgets, features, and real-world usability. As someone who’s personally tested thousands of cameras - from high-end systems to budget-friendly compacts - I’m here to guide you through the practical differences between two intriguing contenders: the Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20. Both hail from 2012, but each takes a different approach to the superzoom compact genre.

With plenty of first-hand hands-on experience, I'll give you a detailed, no-nonsense comparison grounded in practical photography disciplines and technical insights so you can confidently decide which deserves a place in your gear bag.

The FujiFilm F800EXR (left) vs Panasonic LZ20 (right): stark differences in size and ergonomics.

First Impression and Ergonomics: Compact vs. Bridge Style Handling

Right out of the gate, these two cameras couldn’t look more different. The FujiFilm F800EXR embraces a compact design with clean lines and pocketable dimensions: 105x63x36 mm, weighing a modest 232 grams with battery. On the opposite end, the Panasonic LZ20 sports a bulky bridge-style body at 120x76x80 mm and tips the scales at a hefty 499 grams. That chunkier, DSLR-ish shape might not fit neatly in your pocket but provides more substantial grip and a thumbrest, often appreciated during long shooting sessions.

I genuinely appreciate ergonomics when shooting in the field, and in this department, the Panasonic feels like attaching clubs for your thumbs compared to the Fuji’s more nimble approach. The LZ20’s heft also impacts portable travel kits, especially for urban or street photographers prioritizing discreteness and lightness.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, relying purely on their rear LCDs, but more on that later.

Lens and Zoom: 20x vs 21x Zoom - More Than Just Numbers

Both cameras offer impressive zoom reach, crucial in the superzoom class:

• FujiFilm F800EXR: 25-500mm equivalent focal length with a max aperture of f/3.5-5.3
• Panasonic LZ20: Slightly wider 25-525mm at f/3.1-5.8

Despite Panasonic boasting a slightly longer zoom, the Fuji’s superior aperture at the telephoto end (f/5.3 vs. f/5.8) provides better light transmission for distant subjects, an advantage under dim lighting or when shooting wildlife and sports.

The Fuji’s zoom lens also benefits from Fujifilm’s EXR optimization technology, designed to maintain reasonable sharpness across the range. On the flip side, Panasonic’s lens macro capability goes as close as 2cm compared to Fuji’s 5cm, giving it a slight edge for close-up and macro shooters.

If long reach and macro versatility matter to you, Panasonic's edge in minimum focusing distance is worth noting, but Fuji's wider aperture range supports better low-light tele shooting.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: EXRCMOS vs CCD - The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where things get technically interesting - and where I roll up my sleeves, pixel-peeping and running lab charts.

Sensor size and tech clearly affect core image quality.

• FujiFilm F800EXR: Sports a 1/2" EXR CMOS sensor measuring 6.4x4.8mm with a sensor area of 30.72 mm². The camera has 16MP resolution, Raw support, and an ISO range of 100 to 3200 native, boosted to 12800.

• Panasonic LZ20: Uses a slightly smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor sized 6.08x4.56mm (27.72 mm²), also with 16MP, but max native ISO tops out at 1600, boosted to 6400. No RAW support here.

The Fuji’s EXR CMOS sensor enjoys advantages in dynamic range (reported 10.9 EV vs. unknown for Panasonic), color depth (19.5 bits vs unknown), and low light sensitivity (ISO 143 score on DxOmark). While the Panasonic’s CCD produces pleasing colors for daylight snapshots, it falters more in tricky lighting and high ISO performance - CCD sensors of this era tend to have slower readout speeds, more noise, and less flexibility.

The Fuji’s RAW support gives advanced users huge flexibility to push edits and extract detail, a massive plus for enthusiasts and professionals who want to squeeze every ounce of quality from a small sensor.

In real-world shooting, the Fuji images look cleaner, sharper, and with better color gradation - especially when shooting landscapes or portraits where subtle tonality matters.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Following the Action

In practical photography, autofocus (AF) reliability and burst rates can make or break moments.

• Fujifilm F800EXR: Contrast-detection AF with face detection; continuous shooting up to 11 fps at full resolution (quite zippy for a superzoom compact).

• Panasonic LZ20: Contrast-detection AF featuring 9 focus points; continuous shooting at just 1 fps.

I tested both on erratic subjects like birds in flight and moving children. The Fuji’s 11 fps burst proved a joyful surprise - delivering usable frames quickly, great for wildlife or sports beginners. Its face detection worked fairly reliably in daylight but struggled under dim lighting. Panasonic’s single frame per second burst speed is sluggish, and hunting autofocus made capturing fast subjects frustrating.

Neither camera has phase-detection AF or animal eye AF - features absent in this model class. But Fujifilm’s faster AF acquisition and higher burst rate clearly give it a leg up for more dynamic shooting scenarios.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Life in the Field

Neither camera boasts professional-grade environmental sealing, waterproofing, or ruggedness. This places them squarely in casual shooting domains.

• FujiFilm offers a modestly light but solid plastic shell with a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD (460K dots).

• Panasonic is notably heavier and chunkier but also plastic; same size and resolution TFT LCD.

Neither offers articulated or touchscreen displays, slightly limiting composition flexibility.

Top view highlighting button placement and usability.

Interface and Usability: Buttons, Screens, and Menus

From personal grit-testing and field trials, control layouts and interface design dramatically affect shooting enjoyment.

Both cameras share a basic 3-inch 460K TFT LCD, non-touch and fixed - offering adequate but not stellar viewing angles or brightness. While the Fuji’s screen shows slightly warmer color rendition favoring skin tones, neither excels outdoors under harsh sunlight.

Neither camera offers electronic viewfinders, which, given their superzoom reach, can be a bummer in bright conditions.

The Fuji’s cleaner, minimalist control scheme with dedicated dials for shutter/aperture priority and manual exposure makes instinctive adjustments pleasant. Panasonic’s SLR-like form factor introduces more cluttered menus and button arrays, sometimes leading me to fumble during quick changes, especially while tracking fast-moving subjects.

Neither tool includes illuminated buttons, so menu navigation under moonlight or dim venues requires night vision goggles or guesswork.

Shooting for Different Genres: How Do They Perform?

Let’s get into the weeds of actual photography disciplines and see how these cameras stack up in practice.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tone Fidelity and Bokeh

Portraiture demands reproducing natural skin tones and attractive background separation (bokeh).

• The Fuji’s EXR sensor and EXR processor produce warmer, realistic skin colors with decent dynamic range, crucial for catching subtle facial expressions. Its large zoom opening at the wide end (f/3.5) helps generate mild background blur, though don’t expect creamy DSLR softness from a small sensor superzoom.

• The Panasonic LZ20's CCD sensor tends to render skin with a cooler cast as exposure meters for daylight better than shade. Its smaller aperture at telephoto end reduces background separation; bokeh tends to be harsher.

Fast face detection autofocus works comparably on both in good light, but Fuji's slightly faster AF and RAW output win for enthusiasts editing portraits extensively.

Landscape: Resolution, Dynamic Range, Weather Sealing

For landscapes, image resolution and dynamic range trump zoom reach.

• FujiFilm’s 16MP EXR CMOS captures richer dynamic range (~11 stops), more vibrant colors, and cleaner shadows/highlights, critical when shooting high-contrast mountain vistas or sunsets. The slightly larger sensor area helps maintain fine details in foliage and textures.

• Panasonic's CCD sensor appears flatter in dynamic range, losing subtle shadow detail in stronger contrasts. At base ISO 100, images have good sharpness but limited post-processing flexibility due to no RAW option.

Neither camera offers weather sealing - a nonstarter for storm-chasing landscapes - but both handle everyday outdoor conditions reasonably well.

Wildlife: Burst Rate, Telephoto, and AF Tracking

Here the FujiFilm F800EXR has a decisive advantage in:

• Continuous shooting at 11 fps allowing multiple frames to nail motion
• Slightly larger aperture at telephoto end to gather light, critical in forest shade or dawn
• Fast contrast-detection tracking with face detection

Panasonic LZ20’s 1 fps burst rate is painfully slow, making it difficult to capture decisive moments in flight or animal behavior. Its AF system, while giving 9 points, is slow and prone to “hunting”.

If wildlife photography excites you even as a hobby, Fuji excels despite the small sensor limitation.

Sports Photography: Tracking Accuracy and Frame Rates

Sports shooters often demand sharp focus on fast-moving athletes in variable lighting. Fuji’s as-is superzoom package remains the suitable choice here:

• 11 fps burst (rare at this price and sensor size)
• Fast autofocus with tracking and face detect
• Shutter speeds up to 1/2000s for freezing motion

Panasonic simply lacks burst speed and accurate AF trim to make sports shooting rewarding.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

For street shooters - who prize lightweight, discreet gear - the compactness and low weight of the Fuji F800EXR trump the larger Panasonic bridge-style body by a significant margin.

The smaller Fuji is less obtrusive, more convenient for spontaneous shots, and easier to tuck away. Both cameras have no viewfinder, so compositional techniques rely on LCD use.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Focusing Precision

Macro shooters require tight focusing and close distances:

• Panasonic’s 2cm minimum focus distance puts it ahead on paper, allowing more dramatic close-ups.
• Fuji’s 5cm minimum focus still works well but less extreme.
• Neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing - a rather advanced feature rarely found in this class.

However, Fuji’s sensor and EXR processor deliver sharper detail and less noise in macro images, key as these shots zoom into texture.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO Performance and Modes

Small sensor cameras generally struggle with night and astro due to noise.

• FujiFilm supports boosted ISO up to 12800 with usable noise control around ISO 1600-3200 thanks to its CMOS tech and sensor-shift stabilization.
• Panasonic maxes native ISO at 1600 and shows significant noise beyond ISO 400 due to CCD limitations.
• Neither camera offers bulb mode or astro-specific exposure modes.

For casual night shots or urban astro, Fuji is the safer bet given better high ISO images and image stabilization.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio

Video shooters should note:

• FujiFilm F800EXR offers Full HD 1080p at 30fps with H.264/MPEG-4, sensor-shift stabilization, but no mic/headphone jacks.
• Panasonic LZ20 only shoots HD 720p at 30fps using Motion JPEG format, no stabilization.

Fuji's better codec, resolution, and stabilization make it suitable for casual videography, though neither camera targets serious video creators.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

For travel photographers juggling various scenarios:

• Fuji’s lighter weight and smaller size increase portability.
• Panasonic LZ20 holds a longer battery life: 380 shots vs. 300 shots on Fuji.
• Both use proprietary batteries, but Fuji’s NP-50A can sometimes be sourced cheaply from third parties.

Flexible exposure modes and Fujifilm’s RAW support mean you can capture diverse scenes - cityscapes, portraits, landscapes - with more creative control.

Professional Work: Reliability and Workflow Integration

Neither camera targets pro workflows or large-scale commercial needs - they lack rugged build, card redundancy, professional tethering, or RAW in the Panasonic’s case.

Fujifilm’s Raw support is a mild nod toward enthusiasts with post-processing workflows, but image quality limitations from the small sensor restrict professional use to casual clients or editorial if budget-constrained.

Rear screen usability and interface styling influence user experience.

Technical Deep Dive: Sensor and Processor Benefits

Fuji’s EXR CMOS sensor integrates pixel binning and dynamic range priority modes, allowing users to balance between resolution and low-noise or high-DR capture - a rare feature for compact zoomers of this era.

In lab conditions, images out of the Fujifilm demonstrate cleaner files with lower read noise, wider color gamut, and higher tonal gradations.

Panasonic’s CCD sensor is stable but more prone to noise and less flexible; the absence of a true dedicated processor reduces efficiency.

Connectivity and Storage: A Modest Offering

Connectivity is sparse on both:

• FujiFilm offers built-in wireless for image transfer. USB 2.0 and HDMI out are also present.
• Panasonic lacks wireless altogether, only USB 2.0.

Both use a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, with Panasonic also having internal storage.

Wireless is a nice bonus - Fuji edges ahead for modern workflows requiring quick image sharing.

Price-to-Performance: Which Offers Better Bang for Buck?

When new, the FujiFilm F800EXR retailed around $330, while the Panasonic LZ20 hovered near $250.

Considering features:

• Faster burst shooting
• Better sensor technology and RAW format
• Slightly brighter aperture over long zoom range
• Wireless connectivity

The Fuji justifies its higher price with tangible performance advantages and usability.

If you’re truly on a tight budget or want heftier, SLR-style handling, Panasonic may appeal - but only if you can tolerate reduced performance.

Fujifilm F800EXR front Fujifilm F800EXR screen back Panasonic LZ20 front Panasonic LZ20 screen back

Summing Up: Pros and Cons at a Glance

Genre-Specific Performance Overview

A quick glance shows FujiFilm dominating in dynamic photography genres due to speed and sensor prowess, while Panasonic offers value in static, daylight scenarios and macro close-ups.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

If you crave a faster, more flexible superzoom with superior image quality and advanced features - particularly for wildlife, sports, or travel photography where moments come fast - the Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR is your best bet. It’s a modest investment delivering professional-minded benefits on a compact platform.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 serves those who prefer a budget-friendly, bridge-style camera for casual snapshots, macro play, or structured family outings when long zoom reach is the priority but speed and image quality limitations aren’t deal breakers.

It boils down to priorities: portability, speed, and image quality (Fuji) versus cost, macro closeness, and bulkier handling (Panasonic).

By looking beyond specs and digging deep into imaging performance and real-world usability, I hope this detailed comparison helps you choose the superzoom that best fits your creative ambitions and budget. Remember, every camera has its place - choose the one that works for your style and shooting needs.

Happy shooting out there!

If you want specific sample RAW files or a deeper dive into menu systems and in-hand feel, drop a note - I’m always happy to share hands-on insights.