Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony HX10V: The Expert’s Take on These Versatile Superzooms

Choosing a superzoom camera isn’t just about specs on paper - at least, that’s what I’ve learned after testing thousands of cameras over my 15-plus years as a reviewer and professional photographer. Today, we're digging deep into two intriguing options from Panasonic and Sony: the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V.

On paper, these cameras serve a similar purpose - bridging the gap between compact point-and-shoots and bulky DSLR systems with long zoom ranges. But the devil’s in the details. I’ve spent hands-on time with both cameras to help you understand where each shines and where you might want to keep your wallet away.

Let’s get into it with full honesty, technical insight, and real-world perspective.

The Build: Size Matters in Comfort and Portability

Anyone who’s tried to spend a day photographing landscapes or street scenes with a giant brick knows how important physical ergonomics are. The Panasonic FZ1000 II is a bridge-style “SLR-like” camera, while the Sony HX10V is a compact superzoom designed to fit in your pocket.

Right off the bat, the size and weight difference is glaring. The Panasonic tips the scales at 808 grams and measures 136 x 97 x 132 mm, feeling solid and substantial in the hands. This is a camera built for serious handling, with a deep grip that invites your fingers to perch comfortably during longer shoots.

The Sony HX10V, by contrast, weighs only 234 grams and is much smaller at 105 x 60 x 34 mm. Slip it into a jacket pocket or bag without even noticing - it’s a classic point-and-shoot styled camera but with an impressive zoom range for its size.

In practice: I found the Panasonic’s clubs-for-thumbs grip and button placement suited to extended shooting sessions and photo walks, especially with a tripod or monopod. The Sony, while portable and convenient, sacrifices some manual controls and comfort for its size.

Control and Interface: How Quickly Can You Work?

There’s nothing worse than fumbling when your subject demands immediacy. I examine both cameras’ top panels and control layouts to see how efficiently you can nail exposure, focus, or framing.

The FZ1000 II sports a serious spread of dials and buttons, including dedicated controls for shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, plus a joystick for autofocus point movement. It also boasts a fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2360K dots.

Sony’s HX10V keeps things minimalistic, with fewer physical dials and mostly menu-driven settings. It has a decent 3-inch fixed LCD screen (though lower resolution at 922K dots), but no EVF - meaning bright sunlight could make composing shots a challenge unless you squint at the back panel.

In a real-world shoot, the Panasonic let me change settings on the fly without diving into menus, which saved valuable time. The Sony required more reliance on menus and button cycling, leading to some moments of frustration during fast action.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Size really does matter when it comes to camera sensors. Larger sensors generally deliver better dynamic range, lower noise, and improved detail rendering.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II features a 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 13.2 x 8.8 mm, capturing 20 megapixels. This sensor is a proven performer, offering superior image quality over typical compact camera sensors.

The Sony HX10V, meanwhile, has a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor at 6.17 x 4.55 mm and 18 megapixels. While this was a high mark in 2012 when Sony released it, modern sensor technology has largely surpassed it in terms of dynamic range and noise control.

Testing notes: In controlled shoots, the FZ1000 II delivered cleaner images, retaining highlight and shadow detail far better especially in tricky lighting. It also excelled at skin tones in portraiture with natural color reproduction.

Sony images showed more noise creeping in at higher ISOs, and dynamic range limitation resulted in more clipped highlights, especially in sunny outdoor scenes.

LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Framing Your Vision

When you’re shooting in different environments, having a flexible LCD and good EVF can make all the difference.

Panasonic gives you a sharp, fully articulated 3-inch screen with touch sensitivity. I loved this for creative angles, macro work, and video framing. Touch-to-focus was snappy and handy in live view.

Sony’s HX10V relies on a fixed 3-inch screen without touch capabilities. Its XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD displays decent color but is hard to see clearly in daylight. No EVF means you often have to hold the camera at arm’s length, which can be less stable.

Image Samples: Seeing Is Believing

Let’s look at some real samples side-by-side to see how both cameras perform in practical shooting scenarios.

Panasonic FZ1000 II front Panasonic FZ1000 II screen back Sony HX10V front Sony HX10V screen back

From landscapes with rich color gradations, portraits with creamy bokeh, to close-up macros revealing impressive detail, the Panasonic consistently rendered images with more depth and nuance.

The Sony HX10V’s images, while still respectable for casual use, fall short in low light or where crispness and tonal range matter.

Performance Scores: How Do They Stack Up?

Based on a combination of lab tests - taking into account sensor performance, autofocus speed, burst rates, and other benchmarks - and field usage, here is a comparative rating overview.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II leads comfortably in sensor performance, autofocus sophistication, video features, and ergonomics. The Sony HX10V lags behind but retains decent marks for its compactness and zoom range.

Genre-Specific Scores: Who Wins By Discipline?

When looking at different photography types - from wildlife to travel - the practical strengths and limitations become clear:

• Portraits: Panasonic has superior eye detection autofocus and bokeh thanks to its larger sensor and faster aperture.
• Landscape: Panasonic’s better dynamic range and articulating screen edge it ahead.
• Wildlife: Both offer long zoom, but Panasonic’s faster continuous shooting (12 fps vs 10 fps) and more reliable autofocus make the difference.
• Sports: Panasonic’s tracking autofocus represents a real advantage.
• Street: Sony’s compactness is a plus, but the Panasonic’s quieter operation and EVF win out silently.
• Macro: Panasonic’s 3cm minimum focusing distance outperforms Sony’s 5cm, with focus bracketing and stacking adding creative power.
• Night/Astro: Panasonic’s sensor and ISO control enable much cleaner low-light shots.
• Video: Panasonic records 4K UHD, has microphone input and excellent stabilization. Sony maxes out at 1080p, with no audio input.
• Travel: Sony’s small size and GPS built-in make it a convenient travel partner, but Panasonic’s versatility and image quality offer more creative potential.
• Professional: Panasonic supports RAW, has advanced exposure modes, and robust manual control. Sony misses out on RAW and has limited manual exposure options.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Under Fire

As autofocus technology has advanced, the FZ1000 II leverages 49 contrast-detection points and face detection with continuous AF for tracking moving subjects. The joystick control makes selecting AF points intuitive.

The Sony HX10V uses only 9 focus points and relies largely on center-weighted AF and face detection. While reliable for static subjects, it struggles with continuous autofocus and fast-moving subjects.

In practical wildlife and sports shooting, the Panasonic’s AF kept more “keepers” due to quicker, more accurate tracking.

Zoom Lens and Aperture: Flexibility Without the Hassle

Both cameras feature a 400mm equivalent superzoom (16x range), great for wildlife, travel, and casual telephoto needs.

• Panasonic’s 25-400mm lens sports a faster max aperture of f/2.8-4.0, aiding low-light and depth-of-field effects.
• Sony’s lens is slower at f/3.3-5.9, requiring higher ISOs or slower shutter speeds in dim conditions.

Additionally, the Panasonic’s lens allows macro focusing down to 3cm, while Sony caps at 5cm minimum focusing distance.

Stabilization and Burst Shooting: Capturing the Moment

Panasonic includes optical image stabilization (OIS) which is highly effective across the zoom range, crucial for hand-held telephoto shots.

Burst shooting clocks in at 12 fps, impressive for a bridge camera with AF tracking.

Sony's OIS also does a decent job but doesn’t compensate as well at full zoom. Its maximum burst rate is 10 fps but generally less responsive with AF.

Video Capabilities: The Modern Must-Have

For hybrid shooters who want strong video, Panasonic hands down is the winner.

It offers:

• 4K UHD (3840x2160) recording at 30fps
• 1080p at 60fps for smooth motion
• External microphone input (crucial for quality sound)
• Superior in-body stabilization
• 4K photo mode (extract 8MP stills from video)

Sony HX10V maxes out at 1080p HD at 60fps, with no mic input and less refined stabilization.

If video is a significant factor, the Panasonic is far ahead, especially considering 4K is now standard for serious content creators.

Battery Life, Connectivity, and Storage: Staying Powered and Connected

Panasonic employs the DMW-BLC12 battery offering around 350 shots per charge in real-world use, slightly better than Sony's 320 shots per NP-BG1 battery. Not a huge difference, but Panasonic is a bit more fat-finger friendly on power management.

In connectivity:

• Panasonic has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for quick file transfers and remote shooting.
• Sony predates widespread Bluetooth, only supports Eye-Fi card connectivity and GPS tagging. Less convenient by today’s standards.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot, though only Panasonic supports faster UHS-I card speeds.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ready for You?

Neither camera touts rugged weather sealing. Build quality on Panasonic is solid with a robust plastic and metal mix; Sony feels plasticky but adequate for casual use.

If you shoot in rain or dusty environments often, neither is ideal, though Panasonic handles general use conditions better.

Price and Value: What You’re Really Paying For

At launch, Panasonic FZ1000 II commanded around $900, while Sony HX10V was closer to $600 (and has since been fully superseded by subsequent models).

Considering Panasonic’s sensor size, 4K video, and more complete feature set, the price premium makes sense.

Sony appeals to cheapskates or those strictly wanting pocket portability with long zoom, but the dated specs and reduced image quality limit its appeal.

Practical Recommendations: Which One Should You Choose?

Let’s break it down for you:

Go for the Panasonic FZ1000 II if:

• You want superior image quality for portraits, landscapes, and low light
• Video (especially 4K) matters to you
• You appreciate physical controls and EVF for composition
• Manual focus, RAW support, and versatile exposure modes are non-negotiable
• You’re willing to carry a bigger, heavier camera for more creative control

Consider the Sony HX10V if:

• You want a pocketable, ultra-light travel companion camera
• Zoom range is your main priority but you mostly shoot in good light or casual settings
• Budget constraints prohibit shelling out for bridge-style cameras
• You rarely shoot video or need advanced manual settings

Pros and Cons Summary

Panasonic FZ1000 II Pros

• Large 1-inch sensor with 20MP and excellent IQ
• Fast f/2.8-4.0 zoom lens; macro down to 3cm
• 4K UHD video recording with mic input
• High refresh EVF and fully articulated touchscreen
• Robust manual control and RAW shooting
• Effective image stabilization and rapid burst shooting

Panasonic FZ1000 II Cons

• Heavier and bulkier; less pocket-friendly
• No weather sealing
• Pricier - justifiable but not for tight budgets

Sony HX10V Pros

• Extremely compact and lightweight
• Long zoom lens (24-400mm equiv.) in a tiny package
• Built-in GPS tagging
• Decent image stabilization for its class

Sony HX10V Cons

• Small 1/2.3-inch sensor with compromised low-light performance
• No RAW support or advanced exposure modes
• No EVF, touchscreen, or microphone input for video
• Fixed LCD and limited video specs
• Older autofocus system with fewer focus points

Wrapping Up: The Verdict From a Seasoned Reviewer

Here’s the bottom line from someone who’s put each camera through its paces across multiple shooting disciplines:

Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II remains a highly capable, all-around superzoom offering near-enthusiast features and image quality in an approachable (if somewhat bulky) package. It’s an excellent choice if you want a flexible camera that’s ready for photo and video creativity, from portraits to wildlife to landscapes.

Sony HX10V is a neat little tool for casual shooters or travelers who want a long zoom and easy portability. But it’s definitely a camera from another era today, showing its age with a small sensor and limited features. Its main appeal is compactness and beginner-friendly autofocus.

If budget allows and you care about quality, go Panasonic. If you want travel convenience at a fair price without fuss, Sony will do the job (but consider newer Sony models instead).

I hope this comparison helps you make an informed choice. Remember, the best camera is the one you genuinely enjoy using day in and day out - whether it’s a chunky superzoom powerhouse or a pocket-friendly sidekick.

Happy shooting!

• Your Hands-On Camera Expert