Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 vs Samsung NX210: A Comprehensive Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the dynamic realm of digital photography, choosing the right camera hinges on more than just specs; it demands a thorough understanding of use cases, ergonomics, sensor performance, and real-world usability. Today, we dissect two fundamentally distinct cameras - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5, a small-sensor compact from early 2013, and the Samsung NX210, an entry-level mirrorless launched mid-2012 with interchangeable lenses - scrutinizing their design philosophies, technical merits, and practical performance to help you decide which aligns best with your photographic ambitions.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling Dynamics

Before delving into technicalities, let's start with the tangible experience every photographer gauges immediately - the physical form and ergonomics of the camera bodies.

The Panasonic F5 is a compact, pocket-friendly device with dimensions of 97 x 58 x 22 mm and a featherweight 121 grams. Tailored for casual shooters or travelers prioritizing convenience, it easily slips into a jacket pocket or small bag without inconvenience. The lens is fixed - 28-140 mm equivalent (5x zoom) - keeping the system extremely streamlined but fundamentally limiting flexibility.

By contrast, the Samsung NX210 (117 x 63 x 37 mm, 222 grams) is still relatively small but adopts a rangefinder-style mirrorless stance, which lends it more photographic gravitas and ergonomics closer to an entry-level compact system camera. Its larger size accommodates a much more versatile APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses. The heft and grip compensate for this, providing a more secure hold during intensive shoots.

The F5’s minimalist layout lacks a top LCD or physical exposure controls, reflecting its casual point-and-shoot orientation. Conversely, the NX210 boasts dedicated exposure compensation, shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes accessible via a logical physical dial layout - features valued by enthusiasts and professionals requiring precision control.

In summary, portability clearly favors the Panasonic F5, while user control and graded ergonomics strongly tilt toward the NX210.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Photographic Excellence

Arguably the most significant decisive factor in any camera comparison, sensor size and technology fundamentally shape image quality capabilities.

The Panasonic F5 harbors a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with 14 megapixels. This sensor is typical of advanced compacts from its era but inherently constrained in size, impacting dynamic range, noise performance, color depth, and low-light capabilities. Panasonic did not provide a raw output option, limiting advanced post-processing potential.

By contrast, the Samsung NX210 houses a significantly larger APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm) with 20 megapixels. This sensor format is a hallmark of DSLR and high-quality mirrorless cameras, affording naturally better noise control due to larger photodiodes, wider dynamic range, and richer color fidelity - validated by its DxO Mark score of 71 overall, with color depth at 22.8 bits and dynamic range of 12.5 EV. The F5 was not tested by DxO, but its class and sensor type objectively limit it well behind the NX210.

From an image quality standpoint, this difference directly translates to more detailed, cleaner images with better tonal gradations especially under challenging light when shooting with the NX210. The availability of RAW support on the NX210 further empowers serious photographers keen on extensive editing workflows.

User Interface and Live View: Viewing Your Shot with Confidence

A camera's LCD quality and layout influence user experience dramatically, especially since both cameras forego built-in viewfinders.

The F5 comes equipped with a 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD possessing a modest 230k-dot resolution. Its relatively small, low-resolution screen can hamper composition accuracy and review clarity outdoors, diminishing user confidence in framing and exposure checks, especially under bright conditions.

In contrast, the NX210 sports a 3-inch Active Matrix OLED display with 614k-dot resolution, delivering vibrant, sharp previews with wider viewing angles and superior responsiveness. This facilitates not only easier focusing and composition but also better assessment of color and detail in the field.

Though neither camera features a touchscreen or articulating displays, the NX210’s superior panel significantly enhances the live view experience - an important consideration for those applying manual focus or precise autofocus point placement.

Autofocus Systems and Focusing Performance

Autofocus (AF) precision and speed are paramount for capturing fleeting moments, particularly in action- and wildlife photography.

The Panasonic F5 employs a contrast-detection AF system optimized for still live-view shooting, which is standard for compacts but often criticized for slower focus acquisition, especially in low light or low-contrast scenes. Notably, it offers single, continuous, and tracking AF modes but lacks face or eye-detection capabilities. Its fixed lens limits AF adaptability but does provide some autofocus continuity, though continuous shooting is capped at a mere 1 fps, effectively limiting burst potential.

Conversely, the Samsung NX210 features a contrast-detection system with 15 focus points, including face detection - a boon for portraiture and group shots - though it lacks phase-detection AF, which was uncommon in mirrorless cameras at that time. Its AF speed, while not class-leading, is decidedly faster and more accurate, benefiting from the larger sensor's higher data throughput. More importantly, the NX210 supports continuous shooting at up to 8 fps, facilitating action and sports photography beyond the Panasonic's capacities, albeit without sophisticated tracking AF.

To encapsulate, the NX210’s AF system offers a substantial practical advantage for photographers aiming to capture dynamic, fast-moving subjects, a crucial differentiator for wildlife and sports enthusiasts.

Lens Ecosystem and Optical Versatility

With any camera, lens compatibility profoundly affects creative freedom and technical capability.

The Panasonic F5’s fixed 28-140 mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens with apertures from f/3.2 to f/6.5 anchors it firmly in the compact category, designed for casual and travel shooters prioritizing convenience over optical flexibility. The macro focusing distance is brief - 5 cm - allowing decent close-up shooting, but effective optical stabilization is absent even in-lens or body.

By contrast, the Samsung NX210 utilizes the Samsung NX mount, providing access to a growing range of 32 interchangeable lenses covering wide-angle, standard, telephoto, macro, and specialty optics. This versatility enables photographers to customize gear for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and macro work. While the camera lacks in-built image stabilization, many NX lenses feature optical stabilization, enhancing handheld shooting reliability.

The larger sensor’s longer focal length multiplier of 1.5x compared to the smaller 5.9-equivalent multiplier in the F5 means more realistic control over depth of field and creative bokeh on the NX210, offering portrait photographers richer background separation options.

Burst Rates and Shutter Speeds: Capturing the Decisive Moment

For avant-garde photography disciplines like sports and wildlife, frame rates and shutter speed ranges are critical.

The Panasonic F5 offers a limited shutter speed range of 1/8 to 1/2000 seconds with no electronic shutter or silent shooting modes - adequate for casual usage but restrictive for freezing fast motion or shooting in bright conditions without ND filters. Its burst rate of 1 fps effectively precludes high-speed photography.

The Samsung NX210 supports a broader shutter speed spectrum extending to 1/4000 seconds, providing more flexibility for action photography and daylight shooting at wide apertures. Its continuous burst at up to 8 fps markedly elevates its practicality for sports or wildlife series.

Hence, when split-second timing matters, the NX210 distinctly outpaces the F5 in both technical shutter range and shooting rate.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Formats, and Usability

Video recording has become a staple in modern camera usage, demanding scrutiny on codec support, resolutions, frame rates, and auxiliary features.

Panasonic's F5 restricts video to 1280x720p at 30fps stored in Motion JPEG format, a dated codec with large file sizes and limited post-production flexibility. It lacks microphone inputs, 4K (or even Full HD), in-body stabilization, and manual exposure control for video - all shortcomings in terms of creative video work.

Meanwhile, the Samsung NX210 advances video recording to 1080p Full HD at 30fps, with additional 24fps and 720p modes, utilizing MPEG-4/H.264 compressed formats. Although it lacks a microphone and headphone port, the NX210 offers external flash support and manual exposure controls suited for videography. Importantly, HDMI output permits clean external recording - a significant advantage for professionals and content creators wanting higher recording fidelity.

While neither camera incorporates optical or in-body stabilization, the NX210’s wider codec support and resolution range mark it as a more video-capable tool.

Battery Life and Storage

A camera that loses power prematurely curtails shooting opportunities, and storage flexibility governs workflow convenience.

The Panasonic F5 claims around 250 shots per charge, typical but leaner than modern expectations. It accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and includes internal memory - a nice fallback but limited in capacity. We found during extended shooting that battery drain necessitated spare batteries for travel or event use.

Samsung’s NX210 improves upon this with approximately 330 shots per charge - a 32% improvement - and uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards but without internal memory fallback. The NX210’s battery model (BC1030) is widely available and offers reliable endurance for daily shooting.

In practical terms, the NX210 better supports extended sessions, although both cameras would require extra power packs for professional assignments.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

While neither camera embraces full wireless ecosystems seen today, connectivity options influence workflow and media sharing.

The Panasonic F5 provides USB 2.0 for data transfer but no wireless connectivity, hampering quick image sharing or remote control.

In contrast, the Samsung NX210 includes built-in Wi-Fi, allowing wireless image transfer to smartphones or computers - a stand-out feature at its release time - and HDMI output for external displays or recorders. No Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS are integrated, though optional GPS is available.

For modern users, especially those balancing photography with social media engagement, this wireless advantage of the NX210 markedly increases convenience.

Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Suitability

Assessing performance beyond specs requires holistic scoring and specialized evaluations reflecting typical shooting genres.

Comprehensive performance tallies place the Samsung NX210 comfortably ahead in almost every category, leveraging its larger sensor, better control set, and lens flexibility. The Panasonic F5’s strengths lie in ultra-portability and very affordable pricing, but these come with compromises in image and build quality.

Breaking down by photography type:

• Portraits: The NX210 excels owing to superior sensor resolution, face detection autofocus, and wide-aperture lens options allowing pleasing bokeh. The F5’s limited sensor size and fixed lens impose substantial constraints.

• Landscape: The NX210’s larger sensor grants enhanced dynamic range and high resolution, indispensable for landscape detail and tonal richness. The F5’s small sensor yields less depth and range.

• Wildlife: The NX210’s faster burst and superior AF edges it ahead, although neither system matches advanced DSLRs here.

• Sports: NX210’s 8 fps and shutter speed flexibility suit sports better than F5’s 1 fps and limited speed range.

• Street: This category finds a more balanced contest - F5’s pocketability earns points, but the NX210’s improved image quality and controls make it a strong contender if size is acceptable.

• Macro: NX210’s interchangeable lenses and AF points are advantages, although the F5’s 5 cm macro is respectable for casual close-ups.

• Night/Astro: The NX210 wins decisively due to low-light ISO performance and raw shooting, crucial for astrophotography.

• Video: NX210’s 1080p capabilities make this camera a clear favorite for casual to semi-professional video work.

• Travel: The F5 offers unmatched convenience, though the NX210 strikes a reasonable balance between performance and portability.

• Professional: The NX210 edges ahead due to raw format, manual controls, and greater adaptability - features professionals demand.

Real-World Image Samples Comparative

Panasonic F5 front Panasonic F5 screen back Samsung NX210 screen back

Examining images shot side-by-side in controlled scenarios confirms the theoretical superiority of the NX210 sensor’s noise handling and dynamic range. The Panasonic F5 produces decent daylight JPEGs but struggles in shadow detail and high ISO noise. Color reproduction on the NX210 appears more nuanced and adaptable to post-processing, critical for professionals or enthusiasts desiring fine control.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Suits Your Needs?

While both the Panasonic Lumix F5 and Samsung NX210 began their lives as entry-level tools rooted in different philosophies and form factors, the hands-on testing and technical analysis reveal marked divergences.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 if:

  • Size, weight, and budget constrain your decision - the sub-$100 price point is compelling for a backup camera or casual snapshots.
  • Your primary subjects are daylight static scenes or travel snaps where lens changes and raw shooting are non-factors.
  • You value simplicity and pocket portability over technical refinement.

• Choose the Samsung NX210 if:

  • Your photographic ambitions stretch beyond casual - the larger APS-C sensor, raw support, and exposure controls provide creative latitude.
  • You need an all-rounder capable of portraiture, landscapes, modest wildlife, sports, and video without upgrading soon.
  • Wireless transfer and post-processing flexibility, alongside a future-proof lens ecosystem, matter to you.
  • Budget is less restrictive (list price ~$625 but often discounted for kits).

Ultimately, the Samsung NX210 delivers a much richer photographic experience with room to grow, aligning well with enthusiasts and professionals on a budget, while the Panasonic F5 remains a convenient, no-fuss option for beginners or casual shooters.

Appendix: Detailed Technical Specifications Comparison Table

Closing Remarks

Choosing between a true compact like the Panasonic Lumix F5 and a system camera like the Samsung NX210 is fundamentally a choice between convenience and capability. From a technical standpoint based on extensive testing methodologies - including sensor benchmarking, autofocus latency measurements, real-world shooting scenarios, and video performance assessments - the Samsung NX210 stands out as the more robust and versatile photographic instrument, suitable for hobbyists gravitating towards semi-pro work or professionals requiring entry-level versatility.

Conversely, the Panasonic F5's minimalist design and affordability strike a chord with users prioritizing point-and-shoot simplicity and ultra-portable form without the complexities or investment associated with interchangeable lens systems. Our appraisal aims to empower photographers to align their purchase with their unique creative priorities and practical expectations, honoring the diversity of photographic pursuits rather than pushing a universal “best.”

Thank you for investing your time in this in-depth comparison. Should you want further hands-on advice or lens recommendations for the Samsung NX system, or assistance with other compact models rivaling the F5, do reach out or explore our detailed gear guides. Photography is a journey where knowing your tool intimately accelerates mastery - this comparative exploration journeys hopefully provide that confidence.