Nikon P510 vs Panasonic FH1: An Expert Comparison for Every Photographer’s Journey

Choosing the right camera is a pivotal step in your creative journey, whether you’re expanding your gear collection, diving into new photography genres, or upgrading for professional work. Today, we take a deep dive into two distinct cameras released around the early 2010s with quite different objectives: the Nikon Coolpix P510 - a superzoom “bridge” camera aimed at versatile shooting - and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1, a compact point-and-shoot designed for casual, everyday photography.

This comparison blends hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras, thorough technical analysis, and practical insights so you can confidently decide which model suits your needs today - and where each shines across popular photography types.

Physical size and ergonomics differ considerably: Nikon P510 feels substantial and SLR-like; Panasonic FH1 is compact and pocket-friendly.

Design and Ergonomics: Handling Matters

Ergonomics often define your shooting experience more than specs. Here the Nikon P510 and Panasonic FH1 take contrasting paths:

The Nikon P510’s larger, heavier body offers you an experience closer to a DSLR, complete with an ample grip, well-placed buttons, and customizable manual controls. This design suits users who want more control during shooting and don’t mind the extra bulk.

In contrast, the Panasonic FH1 is ultra-light and pocket-sized. Its compactness makes it perfect for casual walk-around photography or travel without the weight penalty but offers fewer physical controls, which may disappoint photographers wanting manual command.

If holding comfort and tactile controls are important for you, especially during long sessions or telephoto shooting, Nikon clearly leads.

Top view highlights control richness on the Nikon P510 versus the Panasonic FH1’s minimalist design.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Insights

Both cameras use small 1/2.3” sensors, common in compact cameras of their era, but with differing sensor types and resolutions.

BSI-CMOS vs CCD: The Nikon uses a backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, which generally produces better low-light performance, higher sensitivity, and faster readout than the Panasonic’s CCD sensor. CMOS sensors also tend to enable faster autofocus and burst rates, as well as improved video capabilities.

Resolution & Detail: The Nikon’s 16MP resolution offers better detail rendition, useful for large prints or cropping flexibility, while the Panasonic’s 12MP is adequate for web and snapshots but comparatively lower resolution.

ISO Performance: Although the Panasonic offers a higher maximum ISO, this is often extended ISO beyond the camera’s native range and typically results in noisy images. The Nikon’s lower maximum native ISO delivers cleaner images, especially when shooting in dim environments.

We performed direct comparisons shooting the same scenes under controlled lighting. The Nikon images demonstrated superior noise control and dynamic range, capturing better detail in shadows and highlights.

Sensor dimensions and technology visualized to contextualize image quality differences.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed - Capture the Moment

The ability to quickly and accurately focus impacts everything from portraits to wildlife and sports.

The Nikon P510 features face detection autofocus and tracking modes that help maintain focus on moving subjects, which is especially valuable for sports or wildlife.

In contrast, the Panasonic FH1 supports only basic contrast-detection autofocus with fixed 9-point focusing and no tracking or face detection, making it less adept at fast or unpredictable subjects.

In testing, the Nikon locked focus noticeably faster on both stationary and moving targets and sustained focus better when shooting continuous sequences.

Lens & Zoom - Reach Your Subjects with Confidence

Lens versatility is a critical factor, especially when considering shooting flexibility in the field.

A standout feature of the Nikon P510 is its mammoth 41.7x optical zoom, extending up to an equivalent 1000mm focal length. This is a boon for wildlife, sports, or any scenario where distant subjects need capturing without weighty telephoto lenses.

The Panasonic FH1 offers a modest 5x zoom, highlighting its role as an everyday compact. Its faster maximum aperture at the wide end (f/2.8) may aid low-light shooting and creative depth-of-field control but is quickly eclipsed by the P510’s zoom versatility.

For detailed macro work, the Nikon’s ability to focus as close as 2 cm allows greater magnification versus the Panasonic’s 5 cm minimum.

Shooting Modes and Manual Controls - Creative Freedom

The Nikon P510’s inclusion of manual focus and full manual exposure controls is a significant advantage for enthusiasts and professionals who want to precisely tailor settings. It supports shutter priority and aperture priority modes, allowing creative depth of field and motion control.

Conversely, the Panasonic FH1 is more straightforward, with fully automatic exposure modes and minimal tweaked settings, fitting casual users or beginners desiring simplicity.

Additionally, Nikon offers timelapse recording, expandable scenarios for creative shooting, which the Panasonic lacks.

A look at the Nikon P510’s tilting 3” TFT screen versus Panasonic FH1’s fixed 2.7” display.

Viewfinder & LCD Quality - Composing Your Shots

The Nikon P510 features an electronic viewfinder (EVF) - indispensable for shooting in bright sunlight or needing traditional eye-level composition. Though resolution isn’t specified, the presence alone supports more confident framing in challenging light.

The Panasonic FH1 lacks a viewfinder entirely, relying on its LCD screen.

LCD characteristics:

• Nikon: 3” tilting, 921k-dot TFT with anti-reflective coating - excellent for flexible viewing angles and outdoor visibility.
• Panasonic: 2.7” fixed, 230k-dot - somewhat small and low-res by modern standards, which can hinder manual precise focusing.

Having an EVF and a high-resolution, tilting screen is a clear win for Nikon, especially in dynamic shooting environments like street, wildlife, or travel photography.

Battery Life and Storage - Keep Shooting Longer

The Nikon P510 offers a rated 200 shots per charge - modest but adequate for casual outings. Typically with an SLR-like camera, carrying spare batteries is advisable for extended sessions.

The Panasonic FH1’s battery life specs are undocumented, but due to its compact design and lack of power-hungry EVF, you can expect respectable longevity, though smaller battery size may limit total shooting time.

Both cameras rely on widely available SD cards, with Panasonic adding some internal memory for emergencies.

Connectivity and Extras

Eye-Fi support with Nikon P510 offers the opportunity for wireless image transfer where supported - a game changer for fast sharing or backing up images. The inclusion of built-in GPS is also a practical feature for travelers tagging their photos.

Panasonic FH1 keeps it simple with no wireless or GPS functionality, reflecting its budget-conscious and casual user design.

Video Capabilities - More Than Still Photography

Nikon’s Full HD at 30fps with H.264 compression offers sharper video with better compression efficiency, facilitating longer recording and better playback quality.

The Panasonic FH1’s video is limited to 720p HD with 30fps in Motion JPEG format, which uses more storage and generally delivers lower video quality.

Neither camera offers external mic inputs, which limits professional audio capture.

Nikon P510 front Nikon P510 screen back Panasonic FH1 front Panasonic FH1 screen back

Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Use

Analyzing overall performance and specific photography niche scores gives us a clearer picture:

How These Cameras Perform Across Photography Types

Portrait Photography

The Nikon’s larger sensor, higher resolution, and face detection autofocus produce better skin tone reproduction, smoother bokeh, and reliable eye detection. It’s your choice if portrait quality and creative depth of field control matter.

The Panasonic FH1, while decent for casual portraits, lacks face detection and offers limited background blur given its shorter zoom and smaller sensor.

Landscape Photography

The Nikon P510’s better dynamic range and 16MP resolution provide richer detail and color differentiation needed in landscapes. Its weather sealing is absent but the robust body offers comfort.

Panasonic FH1 works passably for daylight landscapes, but image quality and resolution limitations reduce print size or cropping options.

Wildlife and Sports

Here the Nikon’s 41.7x zoom, fast burst shooting, and AF tracking excel. It lets you capture distant animals or action sequences better than the FH1, which is limited by its shorter zoom and slower autofocus.

Street Photography

The Panasonic’s compactness and low weight make it ideal for discreet shooting. However, Nikon's quicker AF and manual control can still be preferable if you don’t mind carrying bulk.

Macro Photography

With a 2cm minimum focus distance and manual focus option, Nikon is better suited to close-up photography and creative macro exploration.

Night and Astro

Nikon’s BSI-CMOS sensor and cleaner high ISO make it more capable in low light, though limited by the small sensor class overall. The Panasonic’s noise and dynamic range reduce night scene usability.

Video

Nikon’s 1080p Full HD video with better codec outperforms Panasonic's lower resolution and MJPEG format, making it a better hybrid shooter for casual videographers.

Travel

Panasonic’s featherlight compact design and instant snap capability stands out for walk-around travel. Nikon’s longer zoom and EVF matter for diverse shooting but at a weight trade-off.

Professional Work

While neither camera is aimed at pro-level durability or workflow integration (lack of RAW support, limited connectivity), Nikon’s controls and GPS offer more stable shooting for pro amateurs.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Both cameras shine within their design goals: the Nikon P510 is a versatile superzoom with advanced features more suited for enthusiasts seeking creative control and reach. The Panasonic FH1 offers simplicity, ease of use, and portability, perfect for casual shooters or beginners on a budget.

Making Your Next Move

If you want to get started in photography with an affordable, pocket-friendly camera, explore the Panasonic FH1. For more serious photography - from capturing distant wildlife to experimenting with manual settings and video - the Nikon P510 remains a strong contender despite its age.

Whichever you lean towards, hands-on trials are invaluable. Check for local availability, try holding each camera, and if possible, test their autofocus and image quality firsthand. Investing in the right lens options (where available), accessories like spare batteries or memory cards, and understanding your intended photography styles will maximize enjoyment from day one.

Photography thrives on exploration and growth - these two models represent distinct paths. Whichever path you choose, embrace the chance to tell your visual story with tools best suited to help you create.

Happy shooting!

End of comparison article