Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony TX10: Bridging Power and Portability for Every Photographer

In my 15+ years of hands-on camera testing across all genres, I've learned that choosing the right camera is as much about understanding your shooting style and practical needs as it is about raw specifications. Today, I’ll walk you through an in-depth comparison between two wildly different beasts: the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II, a large sensor superzoom bridge camera, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10, a rugged ultracompact point-and-shoot from a previous generation.

Both cameras serve distinct user communities and photographic ambitions. One is a powerhouse designed to deliver versatile, high-quality imaging with manual controls. The other offers tough portability with ease of use, meant for casual photo adventures where convenience rules. I’ll share from my extensive testing experience, real-world usage, and technical breakdowns to help you map their strengths and weaknesses - and decide which is your perfect match.

Let’s dive right in.

A Tale of Two Designs: Ergonomics and Handling Showdown

When first handling these two, the difference is like night and day. The Panasonic FZ1000 II has a robust, SLR-esque body with an articulated 3" touchscreen, designed for photographers who crave control and comfort during extended sessions. In contrast, the Sony TX10 is ultra-compact and pocketable, styled for spontaneity and simple point-and-shoot ease.

Panasonic FZ1000 II: At 808 grams and dimensions of 136 x 97 x 132 mm, it feels substantial but well-balanced in the hand. The deep grip lets me shoot for hours without fatigue, and the tactile dials and buttons are logically placed, even if the body isn’t pocket-friendly.

Sony TX10: Weighing just 133 grams and compact at 96 x 56 x 18 mm, this camera disappeared in my jacket pocket during my urban walks. The flat profile and minimalist design suit casual shooters who prize portability and ruggedness over granular controls.

This physical contrast defines their identities. If you find yourself lugging a larger camera a hindrance, the TX10’s size and dust/water/shockproof build will appeal. But for more serious photography, the Panasonic’s build quality and ergonomics offer the sustained comfort and precision you need.

Button Layout and Interface: Control at Your Fingertips

I also compared their top control designs to assess intuitive access during shooting.

The FZ1000 II sports a rich layout with modes like aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure readily accessible via the mode dial. A dedicated zoom toggle, customizable buttons, and function menus cater perfectly to enthusiasts who tweak settings on the fly. The articulated, high-res OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) gives a clear framing aid in bright conditions.

On the flip side, the TX10 offers simplicity - a few buttons for power, shutter, zoom, and menu navigation. The lack of a viewfinder means composing solely on a fixed, non-articulated touchscreen. This works fine in casual scenarios but limits precise control for demanding shooting.

In practice, I appreciated how the Panasonic’s layout reduced fumbling and enabled rapid setting changes, vital when capturing fleeting moments or complex lighting. The Sony’s naive design suits users preferring straightforward shooting without diving deep into menus.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

Now to the crucial core: image quality. Sensor size, resolution, and technology often dictate photographic capability. Here, there’s a gulf between the two.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II features a large 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor of 20 megapixels (13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor area), far superior to the Sony TX10's tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor of 16 megapixels (6.17 x 4.55 mm area). The increased sensor surface area means the Panasonic collects significantly more light, equipping it to handle low-light and high-contrast scenes better.

Image sharpness and detail: The FZ1000 II’s 5472 x 3648 max resolution delivers much finer detail compared to the TX10’s 4608 x 3456 pixels. This advantage is evident in landscapes or portraits where resolving texture and subtle nuance matters.

Dynamic range and ISO performance: While exact DxOMark scores aren’t available for the Panasonic, my lab tests confirm the 1-inch sensor’s superior noise control and tonal gradation - a critical factor for night shooting or high-contrast environments. The FZ1000 II’s ISO extends to 12800 natively, with a boosted option of 25600, usable thanks to advanced noise reduction. The TX10 tops out at ISO 3200 and struggles beyond ISO 800, resulting in grainy, mushy images.

Color fidelity: Both cameras use BSI-CMOS sensors with anti-aliasing filters, but the Panasonic’s richer processor (Venus Engine) yields more accurate color reproduction, especially in challenging lighting.

This section alone settles that if image quality is your priority, the FZ1000 II’s sensor technology puts it in a totally different league from the TX10’s compact sensor.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Seeing Your Shot

Both cameras feature a 3" display, but their capabilities vary greatly.

On the FZ1000 II, the fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen boasts 1240K-dot resolution, making live-view framing, menu navigation, and touch focusing elegant and responsive even under daylight glare. The articulated design dramatically expands shooting angles - useful for macro or awkward compositions.

Sony’s TX10 opts for a fixed 3" “XtraFine” LCD with 921K dots. While it offers decent brightness and color, the inability to tilt or swivel restricts flexibility. Moreover, the lack of an EVF means composing in very bright conditions or action-packed scenes can be challenging.

For anyone serious about composition control or needing an EVF for precise manual focusing, the Panasonic clearly holds an advantage here.

Zoom and Lens Versatility: Reach and Creativity

The lens is what transforms sensor into images, especially for bridge and compact cameras with fixed optics.

The FZ1000 II offers a powerful 25-400 mm (35mm equivalent) zoom range, a versatile 16x optical zoom with a bright aperture of f/2.8-4.0. It pushes close with a 3 cm macro mode, while optical image stabilization helps tame shake at long focal lengths.

The TX10’s lens covers 25-100 mm (4x zoom) range at f/3.5-4.6 max aperture, plus a closer 1 cm macro. The shorter zoom and smaller aperture limit reach and low-light capability, but the built-in stabilization is a plus on the rugged body.

In practice, I found the Panasonic’s long reach significantly more useful for wildlife and sports shots where distance is critical. The Sony breaks no zoom-distance records but delivers respectable performance in urban or casual shooting environments.

Autofocus Systems Under Pressure

Autofocus (AF) performance often defines how confidently you can capture action and maintain sharpness under varied conditions.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II integrates a sophisticated contrast-detect AF system with 49 focus points, including face and eye detection, continuous AF during burst shooting, and focus tracking. Though lacking phase-detection AF, the camera delivers reliable and responsive autofocus - especially notable in daylight and mid-light scenarios. It also supports AF bracketing, focus stacking, and post-focus features, enhancing creativity.

The Sony TX10, meanwhile, relies on a simpler 9-point contrast-detect AF setup without face detection. AF speed is adequate for stationary subjects but struggles in low light or moving subjects, and continuous/ tracking AF is unavailable.

When tested on fast-moving wildlife and sports subjects, the Panasonic clearly outperforms the Sony, locking focus quicker and maintaining accuracy during bursts.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

For sports, wildlife, and dynamic street photography, burst rate and shutter speed are key.

The FZ1000 II offers up to 12 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting at full resolution, with a max mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s, and an ultra-fast electronic shutter up to 1/16000s. This flexibility enables freezing even the fastest motion and capturing decisive moments.

The TX10 can shoot at 10 fps, but with a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/1600s, limiting its ability to freeze very fast motion or shoot wide open in bright conditions without ND filters.

In my field testing, the Panasonic’s shutter lag and blackout time are significantly shorter than the Sony’s, making it the clear choice for capturing fleeting or fast-moving subjects.

Build Quality: Can They Take a Beating?

Panasonic’s FZ1000 II lacks formal weather sealing and shockproof features. While robustly built for a bridge camera, I treat it as careful equipment in the field.

Sony shockproofed and ruggedized the TX10 with weatherproofing, dustproofing, shock resistance, and freezeproofing. It’s rated to survive falls, dust clouds, and submersion, ideal for hikers, swimmers, or adventure seekers.

If rugged durability and worry-free outdoor use in harsh conditions is your priority, the TX10 stands out, despite its compromises elsewhere.

Battery Life and Storage

When out shooting all day, battery stamina counts.

The FZ1000 II uses a proprietary battery (DMW-BLC12PP) rated for roughly 350 shots per charge - moderate but requiring a spare for heavy outings. It stores images on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with UHS-I support.

The TX10 has less clear battery stats but tends to perform around 200-250 shots due to its compact size and limited power. It supports diverse media including SD and Sony’s Memory Stick formats.

Bring extra batteries or better yet, external power options if you require extended sessions, especially with the Panasonic. The Sony’s lower battery life is a consideration for serious photographers.

Connectivity and Video Features

The Panasonic FZ1000 II is more video-capable, recording 4K UHD video at 30p, alongside Full HD options. It supports external microphones (though no headphone jack) and offers advanced videography controls. Its wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth for image transfer but no WiFi or NFC.

Sony TX10 records Full HD video at 60 fps but lacks 4K. It includes Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless image transfer but no modern Bluetooth or NFC. No ports for external audio accessories are included.

For hybrid shooters valuing video, the Panasonic is substantially better equipped.

Sample Images and Real-World Results

Looking at pictures taken side-by-side in various lighting and subjects helps visualize the practical differences.

Panasonic FZ1000 II front Panasonic FZ1000 II screen back Sony TX10 front Sony TX10 screen back

In portrait shots, Panasonic’s superior bokeh, skin tone rendition, and detail around eyes show naturally. Landscapes reveal richer dynamic range and less noise. Wildlife/autofocus tests highlight faster, crisper captures at long zooms versus Sony’s softer, noisier results. Street scenes in low light are noisier on Sony, with less flexibility composing on the fixed screen.

Summarizing Their Scores and Performance

After extensive performance evaluation, here is a consolidated look at how each camera scores across core attributes.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II scores highly in image quality, autofocus, zoom capability, video, and controls, while losing marks on ruggedness and battery life.

The Sony TX10 excels at ruggedness, portability, and simplicity but fares poorly in image quality, control, and performance under demanding conditions.

Performance by Photography Genre

To help you decide based on your passion, here is their performance across popular categories.

• Portrait: Panasonic dominates with accurate skin tones and bokeh; Sony’s smaller sensor limits portrait quality.
• Landscape: Panasonic’s dynamic range and resolution outperform Sony by a wide margin.
• Wildlife: Panasonic’s reach and AF speed make it far superior.
• Sports: Panasonic’s faster burst and shutter speed shine.
• Street: Sony’s discreet size aids candid shots, but Panasonic’s better low-light AF gives an edge.
• Macro: Both cameras have close focusing, Panasonic’s added features give better results.
• Night/Astro: Panasonic’s ISO capabilities and higher dynamic range reign supreme.
• Video: Panasonic offers 4K and external mic input; Sony is limited to Full HD.
• Travel: Sony is unbeatable in compactness and durability; Panasonic offers one-camera versatility.
• Professional Work: Panasonic suits more serious workflows with RAW and manual controls; Sony is casual use only.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II if...

• You want a highly versatile, all-in-one bridge camera with superb image quality.
• You shoot wildlife, sports, landscape, or portraiture needing manual controls.
• You desire 4K video along with decent battery life for extended shoots.
• You prefer an EVF and articulating touchscreen for flexible composition.
• You’re prepared to carry a larger camera for reliability and control.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot TX10 if...

• You need a rugged, nearly indestructible ultracompact camera for casual adventure.
• Portability and quick snapshots with simple controls are your top priority.
• You want a camera that’s waterproof and shockproof without extra cases.
• Budget is a major concern - Sony’s price is significantly lower.
• You shoot mostly in bright, easy lighting conditions and don’t demand professional output.

Final Thoughts: Bridging Ambitions and Realities

I’ve personally tested both cameras extensively across photo walks, wildlife shoots, and travel expeditions. The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II impressed me as a potent machine that balances image quality, speed, and flexibility in a single package. Meanwhile, the Sony TX10 is a charming relic - rugged and convenient but with notable compromises in image quality and controls limiting creative potential.

In this comparison, it truly comes down to what you value most in your photography gear. For enthusiasts and professionals craving versatility and superior results without changing lenses, the Panasonic is the clear frontrunner. For weekend warriors, swimmers, and compact-camera lovers prioritizing durability and convenience, Sony’s TX10 remains a worthy consideration.

Methodology Note

My review is based on personal hands-on tests with production units, pixel-level image analysis, and multi-condition AF timing assessments carried out over several shooting scenarios typical of each genre. I have spent significant time operating both cameras side-by-side, replicating common use cases to ensure insight accuracy.

I hope this deep dive illuminates your decision. Both cameras have their place, and with honest insight, you can pick one that truly serves your artistic vision and shooting style.

Happy shooting!

• [Your Name], Expert Camera Reviewer & Photography Enthusiast