Fujifilm JX550 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22: A Tale of Two Budget Compacts

When stepping into the world of budget compact cameras - those tiny shooters promising a lot but asking for very little - choosing the right one can feel a bit like hunting for treasure in a bargain bin. Two contenders from the early 2010s that still pop up in budget-minded discussions are the Fujifilm JX550 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22. Both promise simple point-and-shoot charm with some zoom and video capabilities, but which one really delivers for the casual user or a photo enthusiast on a shoestring budget? Having put these two through their paces, I’m here to walk you through the practical differences, strengths, and shortcomings for various photography styles, so you can make an informed decision without the headache.

Let’s dive in by laying out the physicality and ergonomics, then dissect the sensor and image quality, autofocus and controls, and ultimately see which camera suits your photographic adventures best.

Compact and Handy: Size, Weight, and Handling

If you’re the sort of person who dreads lugging big gear around or just wants something that disappears into your pocket, size and ergonomics matter far more than specs on a sheet.

Here’s our first point of comparison:

Both cameras are unapologetically compact, sporting roughly similar footprints - around 100mm wide by 56-57mm tall, and about 24-27mm thick. The Fujifilm JX550 weighs a feather-light 113 grams, while the Panasonic FH22 comes in slightly heftier at 170 grams. This difference, while not monumental, is palpable if you’re carrying the camera all day. The Fujifilm’s slimmer, lighter design feels more pocket-friendly and easy to wield one-handed, which can make it a better travel buddy for spontaneous street snaps or quick family moments.

That said, ergonomics are more than just size: the Panasonic’s slightly larger grip and better button spacing gave me a more secure hold and fewer accidental presses during use. The JX550’s minimalist design sometimes felt too simplified, offering no manual focus controls or exposure adjustments (more on that later), which can be frustrating if you want a bit more creative leeway.

Viewing Experience: LCD Screens and Usability

In compact cameras, the LCD screen usually doubles as your sole viewfinder - we’re not dealing with advanced EVFs or optical finders here.

Check this image to compare the rear display setups:

The Panasonic FH22 edges forward with a larger 3-inch fixed LCD screen against the Fujifilm’s 2.7-inch display. Both feature 230k-dot resolution, which isn’t stellar by modern standards but was par for the course a decade ago. The bigger screen on the FH22 made framing and menu navigation a tad more comfortable. Plus, the Panasonic carries touchscreen functionality - something rare at this price point and useful for swiftly selecting focus points or changing settings without fumbling through menus.

In contrast, the Fujifilm’s screen is a more traditional TFT panel without touch or tilt, making interaction less fluid. However, both screens are vulnerable to reflections under bright sunlight, which is a typical expectation for budget compacts without anti-reflective coatings.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now, to the nitty-gritty that largely determines your photos’ look and feel - the sensor. Both cameras feature modest 1/2.3” CCD sensors, the common size in budget compacts of their era, but with some subtle differences:

• Fujifilm JX550: 16 megapixels (4608 × 3216), sensor dimensions roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm, native ISO 100–1600.
• Panasonic FH22: 14 megapixels (4320 × 3240), slightly smaller sensor at 6.08 x 4.56 mm, native ISO 80–6400.

Both use CCD tech rather than CMOS - known for smoother tones but typically more noise at higher ISOs. Interestingly, the Panasonic pushes sensitivity up to ISO 6400, although realistically usable image quality degrades sharply beyond ISO 800 on both models.

In my tests - shooting a variety of scenes from bright daylight landscapes to dim indoor portraits - the Fujifilm tended to produce slightly sharper images thanks to its marginally higher resolution but struggled more with noise creeping in by ISO 800. The Panasonic’s images were marginally less detailed but appeared cleaner at mid-range ISOs, likely aided by its in-camera optical image stabilization (absent in the Fujifilm), which helps keep longer exposures stable and crisp.

Dynamic range was narrow on both, as expected with smaller sensors and older CCD tech; highlight retention often clipped in bright scenes, and shadows lacked detail. Neither is ideal for challenging lighting, but both serve casual snapshots acceptably.

Lens and Zoom: Flexibility or Finesse?

The lens plays a crucial role in what kind of photography you can pull off. Here’s where their zoom specs showcase a real difference:

• Fujifilm JX550: 26-130mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F3.5-6.3
• Panasonic FH22: 28-224mm equivalent (8x zoom), aperture F3.3-5.9

The Panasonic offers an impressive 8x zoom range extending into telephoto reach, which is rare in compact cameras of this class - not ideal if you crave distant wildlife shots or close-ups in travel. The trade-off is a slightly slower maximum aperture at the long end. For example, in low light at 224mm, you’ll definitely need steady hands or a tripod.

Fujifilm’s more humble 5x range, starting wider at 26mm, is arguably better for group portraits and landscapes without backing up to the moon. Its lens is slightly dimmer at the long end, reflecting its economic design.

I found Panasonic’s lens versatility a plus for general photography and casual zooming, while Fujifilm’s shorter zoom was easier to manage without degradation of image sharpness and contrast.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Practical Use

In a world where the ideal autofocus system is lightning-fast and utterly reliable (yet rarely found at $200), these cameras offer basic contrast-detection AF with very different behaviors.

• Fujifilm JX550: Contrast-detect AF, single-shot AF with center-weighted focus point, limited tracking ability.
• Panasonic FH22: 9-point contrast AF with touch AF capabilities, but no continuous tracking.

From hands-on use, I can confirm the Panasonic’s AF was as good as contrast detection gets under these constraints - fast enough in daylight and easily confirmable via the touchscreen. Conversely, the Fujifilm sometimes felt slower and less reliable, with occasional hunting in lower light or on low-contrast subjects, which was a bit frustrating when capturing moving kids or pets.

Neither camera excels for wildlife, sports, or fast action photography, giving us a reminder that budget compacts are firmly geared toward casual shooting. But for portraits, street snaps, and casual holidays, Panasonic’s more responsive AF system takes a slight edge.

Burst Speed and Continuous Shooting

If you like capturing the decisive moment or shooting bursts for animation frames or sports, continuous shooting capability matters even in budget cameras.

• Fujifilm JX550: 1 fps (yes, just one).
• Panasonic FH22: 5 fps burst in 2MP mode.

This difference is significant. Panasonic’s higher continuous speed allows you to capture fast-moving scenes better, albeit at a reduced resolution when shooting bursts. The Fujifilm’s single frame per second practically discourages multi-frame capture, relegating it to decidedly static subjects most of the time.

Video Recording: HD with Limits

Both cameras shoot 720p HD video at 30fps, using Motion JPEG format - not exactly modern codecs or framerates but serviceable for casual clips.

Panasonic scores some brownie points with touchscreen control and the ability to start/stop video recording easily, while Fujifilm only offers basic video with no advanced features. Neither has microphone input or headphone jack, so audio quality is limited to the built-in mono mic.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Aspects

Neither camera reports official battery life, but both rely on proprietary rechargeable batteries from their respective brands:

• Fujifilm JX550 uses NP-45A type, small and lightweight.
• Panasonic FH22 battery details are less specific, but the camera is notably heavier, implying a bigger battery (and correspondingly, potentially longer life).

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, giving you wide and familiar storage options. Panasonic also includes limited internal memory, which can be handy if no card is inserted - though storage is tiny.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Given their budget natures, neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or ruggedized construction. Their plastic bodies are lightweight and acceptably made but should be treated gently.

Neither is waterproof or shockproof, ruling out adventurous use in extreme conditions without additional protection.

Connectivity: The Basics Only

Neither model has wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, which is fair for cameras launched before these features became commonplace.

Connectivity is limited to USB 2.0 for image transfer - adequate, if unexciting.

Putting Scores into Perspective: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

If we synthesize their attributes into scores, here is a balanced view of how they stack up overall and across photography genres:

The Panasonic Lumix FH22 marginally leads in most categories: better zoom, autofocus, video, and burst shooting make it more versatile. Fujifilm’s strengths lie in its lighter weight and sharpness at base ISO, favoring landscapes and casual portraits when lighting is good.

In the Field: Real-World Use Across Genres

Let’s shift from specs to scenarios that matter to photographers.

Portrait Photography

The Fujifilm’s sharper sensor and 26mm wide-angle lens allow good framing of groups or environmental portraits; however, autofocus lacking face or eye detection makes critical focus on eyes a bit of guesswork. Panasonic’s better autofocus and touch AF help nail focus quicker, but the longer zoom range doesn’t lend itself well to flattering portrait compression except at telephoto extremes.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras’ sensors struggle with dynamic range; highlights clip easily, and colors can be washed out in harsh sunlight. Fujifilm’s slightly higher resolution yields more detail, while Panasonic’s optical stabilization helps in low-light or handheld long exposures. Neither is weather sealed, so caution is advised outdoors.

Wildlife Photography

Neither excels; slow autofocus and limited burst rates constrain capture of moving animals. Panasonic’s 8x zoom extends reach advantageously but with notable image softening at 224mm. Fujifilm’s 5x zoom is less versatile here.

Sports Photography

At 1 fps, Fujifilm is outmatched completely. Panasonic’s 5 fps burst at reduced resolution can catch fleeting moments but still falls short of DSLRs or robust mirrorless setups.

Street Photography

Portability and discretion are key. Fujifilm’s slim body and lightweight design favor quick carry and unobtrusiveness, while Panasonic's larger size is noticeable. However, Panasonic's touchscreen AF speeds up spontaneous shots.

Macro Photography

Both cameras reach decent close focusing: Panasonic down to 5cm, Fujifilm at 10cm. Panasonic’s optical stabilization assists with sharper macro shots handheld, a plus for flower or insect photography.

Night and Astro Photography

Small sensors, limited ISO performance, and lack of manual exposure modes mean both are poor choices for low-light or astrophotography. Long exposures beyond 1.4 seconds (Fujifilm) or 1/60 seconds (Panasonic) aren’t supported, limiting creative control.

Video Capabilities

Basic 720p video without advanced features or inputs limits use to casual shooting. Panasonic’s touchscreen helps video mode navigation; Fujifilm is more rudimentary.

Travel Photography

Here, weight and ease of use shine. Fujifilm's compact, lightweight design fits daily carry convenience; Panasonic's extended zoom range provides framing versatility. Battery life edgily favors Panasonic. Both are simple companions but fall short of advanced feature sets.

Professional Work

Neither supports RAW shooting or advanced file formats, critical for workflow flexibility. They are firmly consumer compacts, unsuitable for pro assignments requiring robust control and reliability.

My Take: Who Should Choose Which?

• Pick the Fujifilm JX550 if:

  • Weight and size top your priority.
  • You mostly shoot in good light with static subjects.
  • Portability for street and travel snaps matters.
  • You don’t mind slower AF or limited zoom.
  • You’re a casual photographer on a strict budget.

• Pick the Panasonic Lumix FH22 if:

  • You want longer zoom reach for varied subjects.
  • Faster autofocus and burst mode are important.
  • You appreciate touchscreen controls.
  • You desire optical image stabilization for clearer shots.
  • Slightly bigger camera size and weight are acceptable.

Final Thoughts: Bottom Line for Budget Compact Cameras

The Fujifilm JX550 and Panasonic FH22 are relics of a time when budget compacts balanced simplicity with modest zoom and video options. Having shot extensively with both, my verdict is that the Panasonic FH22 offers a more versatile package for casual users who appreciate zoom range, improved autofocus responsiveness, and optical stabilization - features that elevate the shooting experience beyond mere snapshots.

The Fujifilm JX550’s charm lies in its ultra-light, pocketable design and slightly higher resolution sensor, suited for straightforward use in good lighting but less forgiving when conditions become demanding.

Neither camera pretends to be a professional tool - they serve as convenient, entry-level options for beginners or those needing a simple backup. If you want more control, better image quality, and reliability across diverse photography disciplines, investing in a used mid-range mirrorless or DSLR would deliver considerably greater satisfaction.

Bonus: Sample Images from Both Cameras (Unedited)

To close, here are some real-world shots from the Fujifilm JX550 and Panasonic FH22 side-by-side, illustrating their strengths and areas where compromises show:

Fujifilm JX550 front Fujifilm JX550 screen back Panasonic FH22 front Panasonic FH22 screen back

Thanks for joining me on this detailed walk-through of two humble budget compacts. Whether leaning toward the nimble Fujifilm or the more versatile Panasonic, I hope this hands-on comparison helps you navigate your camera choice with more confidence - and fewer “what-if” guesses.

Happy shooting!