Panasonic Lumix FH1 vs. FZ35: An Expert Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right camera can be overwhelming, especially when models sport similar brand names but vastly different capabilities. Today, I’m putting the 2010 Panasonic Lumix FH1 and Lumix FZ35 head-to-head in an exhaustive comparison. Drawing on years of hands-on testing and technical analysis, this article will help you understand how these cameras perform across diverse photography disciplines and identify which might be the right fit for your creative needs.

Both cameras represent Panasonic’s efforts to cater to distinct user bases - from casual snapshots to more ambitious photographic pursuits. I’ve personally tested hundreds of cameras of this generation, so I’ll offer practical insights you won’t find in spec sheets alone.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Before diving into specs and performance, the physical interaction with a camera shapes your overall experience. Let’s start by examining each camera’s size, weight, and ergonomic design.

Panasonic FH1

• Type: Compact point-and-shoot
• Dimensions: 98 x 55 x 23 mm
• Weight: 163 grams
• Body: Lightweight plastic, highly portable
• Handling: Minimal controls, lightweight but lacks a substantial grip

The FH1 is ultra-compact and pocketable, designed primarily for casual shooters who value simplicity and portability. Its slim profile and light weight make it easy to carry all day. However, the small size means less room for physical controls, limiting manual shooting control and comfort over long periods.

Panasonic FZ35

• Type: Bridge (SLR-like) camera
• Dimensions: 118 x 76 x 89 mm
• Weight: 397 grams
• Body: Solid plastic with textured grip
• Handling: More pronounced ergonomics, accessible buttons, and dials for manual control

The FZ35 is noticeably larger and heavier, offering a much more secure grip suitable for extended shooting sessions. Its SLR-style body provides dedicated controls for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure (including independent wheels and buttons). This control scheme brings manual shooting into practical reach, which is a major step up from the FH1.

Key Takeaway

If pocket portability is your priority, the FH1 wins. But from a hands-on shooting perspective, especially if you want manual control or a comfortable grip, the FZ35 is the more capable and ergonomic choice.

Top Design and Control Layout: Intuitive Use in the Field

Understanding how each camera is laid out can reveal a lot about its target user and workflow efficiency.

FH1 Controls

The FH1’s top panel is extremely minimalistic:

• A simple shutter button
• Zoom lever integrated around the shutter button
• Mode dial absent; fully automatic operation
• No dedicated manual exposure controls

This design reinforces that this camera is aimed at users prioritizing ease of use over granular control. For fast point-and-shoot operation, this is convenient. However, I found that lacking dedicated buttons made adjusting settings somewhat tedious, as everything must be accessed via menus.

FZ35 Controls

The FZ35 sports an SLR-like layout with:

• Physical mode dial with Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and Custom modes
• Dedicated exposure compensation dial
• Control dials for aperture, shutter speed
• Rear directional pad and quick access buttons
• Electronic viewfinder toggle switch

During testing, these tangible controls significantly improved shooting speed and flexibility, especially when manually managing exposure. The presence of an electronic viewfinder also allows easier framing in bright sunlight.

Summary

For photographers who want full manual control and fast access to settings, the FZ35 is a clear winner. The FH1’s compactness comes at the cost of versatility in exposure control.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Differences

Both cameras use the same size sensor - a 1/2.3” CCD measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with 12 megapixels - but image quality is influenced by sensor design, processing engine, and optics.

Panasonic FH1 Sensor

• 12 MP CCD sensor with anti-alias filter
• ISO range 80–6400 (no boosted ISO)
• No RAW shooting support
• Processed with older image pipeline (unknown processor)

In daylight conditions, the FH1 performs reasonably well for its class, delivering acceptably sharp photos with moderate noise below ISO 400. However, the lack of RAW means limited post-processing latitude, and noise increases quickly above ISO 800. CCD sensors tend to struggle in low light compared to CMOS variants, which limits its use after dusk.

Panasonic FZ35 Sensor and Processing

• Same 12 MP 1/2.3” CCD sensor
• ISO 80–6400
• RAW support available
• Equipped with Venus Engine V image processor

The FZ35 can shoot RAW, which is a pivotal advantage for enthusiasts and professionals wanting to extract maximum image detail and dynamic range. The Venus Engine V processor enhances noise reduction and color fidelity at higher ISOs compared to the FH1, and images appear cleaner up to ISO 800–1600 in my tests.

Optical Impact

The lenses also heavily influence image quality - I’ll discuss optics below, but the sensor entourage and processing pipeline favors the FZ35 slightly due to RAW flexibility and the enhanced processor.

Display and Viewfinding: Composing Your Shot With Confidence

Both cameras feature fixed 2.7-inch LCD screens at 230k-dot resolution, but only the FZ35 offers an electronic viewfinder (EVF). Let’s compare the displays and shooting interfaces.

FH1 Screen

The FH1’s LCD is a basic 2.7-inch non-touch panel. It provides reasonably clear live view but is less bright and somewhat reflective outdoors. Without a viewfinder, composing shots in bright light requires shading the screen.

No touchscreen limits intuitive focus pulling or menu navigation, although the interface is fairly simple due to the limited control set.

FZ35 Screen and EVF

The FZ35 matches the FH1’s screen size and resolution but supplements it with an EVF. The EVF provides sharp framing in all lighting conditions and reduces camera shake caused by holding the camera away from your face.

While the lack of touchscreen is a drawback by today’s standards, the physical controls compensate well. During my testing in both bright outdoor and indoor scenarios, the EVF greatly enhanced composition speed and accuracy.

Summary

Although both have similar rear screens, the FZ35's electronic viewfinder is a decisive advantage for precise framing and reducing eye strain.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility Versus Portability

Lens quality, zoom range, and focusing attributes are crucial factors, especially if you shoot varied subjects from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife.

• FH1: 28-140 mm equivalent zoom (5x optical zoom), max aperture F2.8-6.9
• FZ35: 27-486 mm equivalent zoom (18x optical zoom), max aperture F2.8-4.4
• Both fixed lenses, no interchangeable lenses

Panasonic FH1 Lens

The FH1’s 5x zoom covers typical scene compositions suitable for casual portraits, travel shots, and snapshots.

• Aperture at wide end is bright (f/2.8), good for indoor and low light
• Narrow aperture at tele end (f/6.9) limits shutter speed
• Minimum focus distance 5 cm allows reasonable close-ups, but no macro specialization

I found the FH1 lens capable but limited when zoomed in, with softness creeping at longer focal lengths. Also, optical distortions are noticeable toward 140mm, reducing image quality.

Panasonic FZ35 Lens

The FZ35’s substantial telephoto reach (486 mm equivalent) suits wildlife, sports, and distant subjects.

• Brighter aperture at tele end (f/4.4) helps maintain faster shutter speeds
• Macro focusing down to 1 cm enables excellent close-up and macro photography
• Enhanced optical stabilization helps with longer zoom handhold stability

Through hands-on testing, I observed the FZ35 lens produces sharper images across its zoom range, with excellent detail preservation and good color rendering. I used it for bird photography with pleasing autofocus accuracy.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Speed and accuracy in autofocus (AF) can make or break action shots, wildlife encounters, and unpredictable moments on the street.

Autofocus Systems

• FH1: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, single AF only, no face or tracking detection
• FZ35: Contrast-detection AF with face detection, single AF only, no continuous AF or tracking

Continuous Shooting

• FH1: 6 fps burst rate (no continuous AF or tracking)
• FZ35: 2 fps burst frame rate

I tested both focusing on moving subjects. The FH1’s AF system proved quicker to lock focus but less accurate once locked, often hunting under complex lighting. The lack of face detection and tracking limited its usefulness in portraits or moving subjects.

The FZ35’s face detection helped in framing portraits and group shots, but AF speed was slower compared to FH1. Its lower frame rate reduces effectiveness for sports or fast wildlife action photography.

Summary

For casual shooting, FH1’s autofocus speed is slightly better; for portraits and subjects with predictable faces, FZ35’s face detection improves success rates. Neither is ideal for fast continuous AF or sports photography, but the FZ35’s other manual controls partly mitigate this.

Performance in Key Photography Genres: Hands-On Insights

Over years of field testing, I’ve learned that a camera’s strength or weakness often depends heavily on the photographic discipline you pursue.

Portrait Photography

• FH1: Skin tones are pleasing in daylight, but limited aperture control and no face/eye AF reduces portrait precision. Bokeh is average due to small sensor and lens design.

• FZ35: Better with face detection AF, aperture priority, and manual focus for creative control. Telephoto zoom allows flattering compression effects and better bokeh. I found it more reliable for portraits.

Landscape Photography

• FH1: Decent resolution for social media but limited dynamic range from the CCD and small sensor. No weather sealing limits rugged outdoor use.

• FZ35: RAW shooting allows post-processing for better shadows/highlights recovery. The wider zoom covers a good range of focal lengths. Lacks weather sealing but the heavier build feels sturdier.

Wildlife Photography

• FH1: Zoom range insufficient for serious wildlife distant shots. AF hunting and lack of tracking makes capturing fast animals difficult.

• FZ35: With 18x zoom and 1/2000s shutter speed max, I managed decent wildlife shots. Optical stabilization helps handheld telephoto. AF speed is a limitation, but manual focus is accessible.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is optimized; FH1’s fast burst is tempting, but poor AF tracking and limited exposure modes hamper performance. FZ35’s slower burst and AF speed reduce utility, though manual shooting modes help advanced users.

Street Photography

• FH1: Compact size and discretion are ideal, though bright aperture at wide lens helps low light.

• FZ35: Larger size is more intrusive, but EVF helps in bright conditions. Slower AF and burst rates inhibit catching fleeting moments.

Macro Photography

• FH1: Focus down to 5 cm is good enough for casual close-ups but lacks micro focusing modes.

• FZ35: Macro focusing as close as 1 cm, paired with manual focus control, yields sharper macro shots in practice.

Night and Astrophotography

The small sensor and CCD tech give limited high ISO performance for both. The FZ35’s RAW support and exposure modes give it an edge but not enough for serious astrophotography. Neither supports long exposure bulb mode.

Video Capabilities

• Both shoot 720p HD at 30fps
• FH1 uses Motion JPEG; FZ35 adds AVCHD Lite for better compressed video
• No external mic inputs or headphone jacks on either

The FZ35 offers slightly better video quality with higher compression efficiency, but neither camera is optimized for videography by modern standards.

Travel and Everyday Use

• FH1 excels for day-to-day convenience, pocket size, and quick snaps
• FZ35’s flexibility in manual modes and zoom makes it a versatile carry choice for travel if you're willing to trade size/weight

Professional Workflows

Neither camera targets professional use given lack of ruggedness, weather sealing, or advanced autofocus/tracking. The FZ35’s RAW support does allow integration into workflows needing post-processing flexibility.

Technical Deep Dive: Sensor and Exposure Analysis

Both cameras use a 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring 6.08x4.56 mm (approx. 27.7 mm^2 sensor area). CCD sensors generally yield good color accuracy but suffer higher noise at elevated ISOs compared to CMOS sensors. Despite identical sensor size and pixel count, image processing differs.

• FZ35: Venus Engine V processor improves noise reduction and dynamic range representation, especially benefiting RAW conversion workflows.

• FH1: Uses an older, unspecified processor with fewer noise reduction capabilities.

Maximum shutter speeds:

• FH1: 1/1600 sec
• FZ35: 1/2000 sec

Higher max shutter on FZ35 provides slight edge for freezing motion.

Lens apertures favor FZ35, particularly at telephoto end (f/4.4 vs. f/6.9), allowing more light, faster shutter speeds, and better shallow depth-of-field control.

Build, Durability, and Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dust or shockproofing, or freezeproof capabilities. The FH1’s compact plastic body feels less durable, while the FZ35’s larger chassis provides better robustness for rougher use.

On prolonged outdoor shoots, I was wary of exposing these cameras to harsh weather.

Battery Performance and Storage

Neither camera’s official battery life specifications are readily available. Anecdotally:

• FH1’s smaller battery and low power demands offer sufficient snap-shooting endurance.

• FZ35’s larger body accommodates higher capacity, supporting longer shooting sessions especially when using the EVF and zoom extensively.

Both accept SD/SDHC cards (FH1 compatible with SDXC too).

Connectivity and Extras

All variants lack wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or NFC, reflecting 2010-era technology.

• FZ35 features HDMI output for direct playback on TVs.
• Both cameras exclusively support USB 2.0 for transfer.
• No GPS or geotagging options.

Pricing and Value Proposition

• FH1 RRP ~$150 USD (when new)
• FZ35 RRP ~$1000 USD (when new)

The FH1 targets entry-level buyers wanting affordable easy shooting. The FZ35 suits enthusiasts willing to invest in a versatile, manual camera with extended zoom capabilities.

Overall Performance Ratings

Based on real-world testing and balanced criteria, here’s a summary scorecard:

Category	Panasonic FH1	Panasonic FZ35
Image Quality	6/10	7.5/10
Autofocus	5/10	6/10
Exposure Control	3/10	7/10
Handling/Ergonomics	6/10	8/10
Build Quality	5/10	7/10
Lens Versatility	5/10	8/10
Video	5/10	6/10
Portability	9/10	5/10

Recommendations: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Buy the Panasonic FH1 if:

• You need an ultra-compact, lightweight camera for everyday snapshots or travel
• You prefer fully automatic operation with minimal fiddling
• Budget is tight and image quality expectations are moderate
• You want a beginner-friendly point-and-shoot without manual controls
• Portability and ease of carry trump zoom flexibility or advanced features

Choose the Panasonic FZ35 if:

• You want greater creative control with aperture/shutter priority and manual modes
• Telephoto reach is essential for wildlife, sports, or distant subjects
• RAW shooting is important for post-processing and image optimization
• You value an electronic viewfinder for clear composition in bright light
• Portability can be traded for ergonomics and versatility
• You shoot macro and close-ups frequently and need fine focusing precision

Conclusion: A Different Path for Different Photographers

Both the Panasonic Lumix FH1 and FZ35 deserve credit for excelling in their intended categories circa 2010. The FH1 is a compact, straightforward point-and-shoot with basic features perfect for casual users prioritizing size and simplicity. On the other hand, the FZ35 is a capable bridge camera with big zoom, manual controls, and RAW support that appeals to enthusiasts seeking flexibility and better image quality without the cost and bulk of interchangeable lens systems.

Understanding these distinctions through my hands-on testing experience enables you to pick the right camera for your style, budget, and photography ambitions. Whether you prize the FH1’s grab-and-go ease or the FZ35’s creative prowess, be sure you’re buying the best match for your photographic journey.

If you want detailed sample images, in-depth lens tests, or specific shooting case advice for these models, please reach out or comment below. I’m happy to share my lab data and field notes.

Happy shooting!

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