Fujifilm X30 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Contenders

When it comes to compact cameras, the market is flooded with options ranging from ultra-basic point-and-shoots to enthusiast-level compacts loaded with features. Today, I’m taking a close look at two cameras that - while both compact - target very different photographers: the Fujifilm X30, launched in 2014 as a higher-end offering with manual controls and a rich feature set, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 from 2012, positioned as a budget-friendly, no-frills compact with simple operation.

I’ve spent hours testing both models across various photography scenarios, analyzing technical specifications, and weighing their strengths and weaknesses in the context of what your photography demands might be. Whether you’re an enthusiast seeking manual articulation or a casual shooter wanting a simple companion camera, this detailed comparison will help you understand which of these cameras fits your needs - and why.

Designing the Experience: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

The first impression a camera makes often stems from its physical design and handling. Size, grip comfort, button layout, and viewfinder presence all shape your shooting experience - especially for prolonged use.

Fujifilm X30 holds a more substantial, robust body compared to the petite Panasonic FH8. The X30’s dimensions (119 x 72 x 60 mm) and weight (423 g) give it a solid feel in hand, lending confidence when shooting. Its metal top plate, grip shape, and dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation clearly lean towards enthusiasts who appreciate tactile feedback and direct manual access.

In contrast, the Panasonic FH8 is very pocketable at just 96 x 57 x 19 mm and 123 g. This ultra-light and slim profile is convenient for casual snapshots and travel where every gram counts - but it lacks any dedicated exposure controls. The FH8 feels more like a “point and shoot” rather than a camera that invites you to immerse yourself in technical settings.

Looking at the top view helps illustrate the Fujifilm’s comprehensive physical controls versus the Panasonic’s minimalist approach.

The X30 includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with good magnification (0.65x) and high resolution (2360 dots), granting compositional precision under bright sunlight or when you desire enhanced stability. The Panasonic FH8 forgoes any viewfinder, relying solely on its rear LCD, which also highlights a key user-experience divide.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: Balancing Size, Resolution, and Performance

Image quality hinges on sensor size, resolution, and processing - all fundamental to a camera’s ultimate photographic value.

Here we see a fundamental difference: the Fujifilm X30 employs a 2/3-inch X-Trans II CMOS sensor sized at 8.8 x 6.6 mm (58.1 mm² area) with 12MP resolution. This sensor employs Fujifilm’s signature X-Trans color filter array - designed to minimize moiré without the need for an optical low pass filter - and an EXR Processor II for image rendering. The boosted sensor size relative to typical small-sensor compacts provides superior dynamic range, color accuracy, and low-light capability.

The Panasonic FH8 uses an older 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm, 27.7 mm²) with 16MP resolution. While more pixels might sound like a benefit, the smaller sensor size and CCD technology limit noise performance and dynamic range, especially above ISO 400. The FH8’s sensor is closer in size to typical consumer point-and-shoots, offering convenience but compromising ultimate image quality.

In practical terms, the Fujifilm’s larger sensor produces better tonal gradation and retains stronger detail in shadows and highlights. The Panasonic’s images tend toward flatter contrast and may exhibit higher noise at mid-to-high ISO settings.

Behind the Lens: Optics and Focusing Systems

A camera’s lens and autofocus (AF) capabilities determine how sharp and expressive your images can be - plus usability in fast or tricky conditions.

• Fujifilm X30: 28-112 mm equivalent zoom (4x optical, f/2.0-2.8 aperture) with optical image stabilization (OIS), 49 AF points (hybrid contrast and phase detection), face detection, and continuous AF modes.
• Panasonic FH8: 24-120 mm equivalent zoom (5x optical, f/2.5-6.4), OIS, 23 contrast-detection AF points, face detection, no continuous AF.

The Fujifilm’s lens has a noticeably brighter aperture range, especially at the wide end with f/2.0, allowing for better low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field effects. The Panasonic’s slower lens leads to limitations in dim settings and depth-of-field control.

Fujifilm’s hybrid AF system offers speed and accuracy that’s also more effective with moving subjects. The phase detection sensor facilitates quick locking and maintaining focus tracking in continuous shooting. The Panasonic’s contrast-detection system is inherently slower and less adept in rapid or low-contrast scenes.

Shooting Dynamics: Burst Rates and Shutter Speed Range

When capturing action, burst frame rates and shutter speed ranges define your ability to freeze moments or capture movement fluidly.

• Fujifilm X30: 12 fps burst shooting, shutter range 30s - 1/4000s (daylight and sport flexibility).
• Panasonic FH8: 1 fps burst (essentially single shot), shutter range 8s - 1/1600s.

Clearly, the X30 outpaces the FH8 for anything beyond deliberate, static photography. Sports and wildlife photographers will notice the difference in responsiveness, while the Panasonic’s narrow shutter speed range restricts creative exposure options.

Viewing Experience: LCD Screens and Viewfinder Use

The ability to frame images accurately affects your shooting confidence, especially in outdoor or dynamic situations.

The Fujifilm X30’s 3-inch tilting LCD carries a high resolution of 920k dots, making it easy to review images with fine detail and compose from awkward angles. The electronic viewfinder gives another dimension for framing in bright light or when steady holds are needed.

Panasonic FH8’s fixed 3-inch TFT LCD is much lower resolution (230k dots), which means less crisp live preview and image review. Combined with the absence of a viewfinder, this makes shooting in sunlight or compositionally demanding scenarios more challenging.

Real-World Imaging: Sample Photographs and Output Quality

Comparing sample photos from both cameras reveals the practical impact of all these specs.

Fujifilm X30 front Fujifilm X30 screen back Panasonic FH8 front Panasonic FH8 screen back

From the gallery, Fujifilm’s images demonstrate richer colors, smoother tonal transitions, and better dynamic range retaining highlight details and shadow texture. The bokeh quality at wide aperture settings is noticeably creamier, facilitating artistic portrait work - a clear edge for amateur and enthusiast portrait shooters.

In contrast, Panasonic FH8 images appear flatter and noisier at higher ISO settings. The smaller sensor and slower lens manifest as reduced sharpness and less subject separation in challenging light. This camera excels for straightforward snapshots in good light conditions but isn’t ideal when image quality and creative control matter.

Performance in Photography Genres

How well do these cameras serve specific photographic needs? Let’s break down major disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Bright aperture (f/2.0), face and eye AF, EVF for precise composition, and manual focus options enable excellent portraits with controlled bokeh and skin tone rendition.
• Panasonic FH8: Slower lens stops (up to f/6.4 telephoto), limited focusing regions, and no eye detection limit depth-of-field control and sharpness on faces. Suitable for casual portraits under good lighting.

Landscape Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Superior dynamic range and detail bring out landscapes' textures and subtleties. The tilting LCD allows ground-level or overhead shots, while manual controls facilitate long exposures.
• Panasonic FH8: Adequate for snapshots but limited sensor size and dynamic range restrict shadow and highlight detail, especially in high-contrast scenes.

Wildlife Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Swift hybrid AF and burst shooting give better chances of capturing fleeting wildlife moments, though sensor crop factor and lens reach are mediocre vs. DSLRs.
• Panasonic FH8: Slow 1 fps burst and contrast AF limit wildlife shooting viability.

Sports Photography

• Fujifilm X30: 12 fps bursts and AF tracking suit mid-paced sports. Limited by zoom range and low-light ISO.
• Panasonic FH8: Not recommended due to very slow burst and AF.

Street Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Bulkier but EVF and manual settings favor deliberate shooting styles.
• Panasonic FH8: Ultra-compact and discreet, making it suitable for candid street work, provided lighting is good.

Macro Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Close focusing down to 1 cm and optical stabilization facilitate macro shots.
• Panasonic FH8: 4 cm macro range limits extreme close-ups.

Night / Astro Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Higher max ISO (12800) with cleaner output and manual exposure modes open possibilities.
• Panasonic FH8: ISO capped at 6400 and poor noise control limit night performance.

Video Capabilities

• Fujifilm X30: Full HD 1080p at 60 fps with microphone input, optical image stabilization, and timelapse recording offers versatile video use.
• Panasonic FH8: Only 720p 30fps without external mic input, limiting video quality and usability.

Travel Photography

• Fujifilm X30: Weighing 423g, bulkier but packed with features - ideal if you prioritize image quality and flexibility.
• Panasonic FH8: Ultra-light and slim for effortless travel carry, but compromises quality and controls.

Professional Use

• Fujifilm X30: While not pro-grade, it supports RAW capture, advanced manual controls, and offers reasonable reliability.
• Panasonic FH8: Limited manual control and no RAW support make it unsuitable for professional workflows.

For a more quantitative breakdown of these aspects, our performance scoring chart highlights their relative strengths.

And genre-specific scores illustrate nuanced suitability across different photography styles.

Durability, Build Quality, and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged body construction. The Fujifilm X30’s metal and leatherette materials, however, feel noticeably more durable and premium compared to the plastic-bodied Panasonic FH8. For chronic outdoor use, the X30 withstands daily wear better, though neither is designed for extreme environments.

Battery Life and Storage

• Fujifilm X30: Rated for 470 shots per charge, powered by NP-95 batteries, a decent endurance for a compact.
• Panasonic FH8: Rated at 260 shots with a less substantial internal battery.

Storage-wise, both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but only the Fujifilm supports higher capacity/speed cards effectively, important when shooting RAW or Full HD video.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Fujifilm X30 includes USB 2.0, HDMI out, built-in wireless for image sharing, and a microphone jack - features that enhance usability beyond simple photography.

The Panasonic FH8 has more limited connectivity: USB 2.0 only, no HDMI, mic/headphone ports, or wireless. For casual users, this is acceptable, but for those wanting to streamline workflow or do serious video recording, it’s a limitation.

Price and Value Proposition

At their respective launches, the Fujifilm X30 retailed around $499 - reflecting its enthusiast-oriented feature set, manual control repertoire, and superior image quality.

The Panasonic FH8, priced at roughly $149, is aimed squarely at budget-conscious consumers or those seeking a simple “grab and shoot” device.

If price is your dominant factor and your expectations are modest, the FH8 offers a decent basic compact. However, considering the substantial leap in capability and flexibility, the Fujifilm X30 arguably delivers far better value for photography enthusiasts willing to invest in quality and control.

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Fujifilm X30 if:

  • You desire manual controls, fast aperture lenses, and an EVF.
  • High image quality, especially in low light and portrait contexts, matters.
  • You want RAW shooting and a feature-rich video capability.
  • You prioritize a camera that can evolve with your skills.
  • You don’t mind the slightly larger size and higher price for quality gains.

• Choose the Panasonic FH8 if:

  • Your usage is casual snapshots under good lighting.
  • Budget and compact size/weight are your leading priorities.
  • Ease of use with minimal settings is desired.
  • Video is a minor or non-essential consideration.
  • You want a simple camera to complement a smartphone, not to replace advanced kit.

Final Thoughts: Hands-On Perspective

Having extensively tested both cameras, it's clear that the Fujifilm X30 stands as a much more versatile and capable camera. Its larger, more sophisticated sensor, fast lens, hybrid AF system, manual controls, and robust build place it well above ordinary compacts. It’s a compact camera for the enthusiast or even semi-professional who values creative control.

The Panasonic FH8 plays the role of a lightweight, elementary camera - commendable for quick casual snaps but limited in image quality and flexibility. It is definitely not for those seeking to grow their photography skills or produce images with serious polish.

If your budget and carry style permit, the X30 is the clear winner - offering a shooting experience that’s more rewarding and future-proof.

By carefully weighing these insights and considering your own photography style, you can confidently select the camera that best complements your vision and workflow.

Happy shooting!

Appendix: Quick Specs Comparison