Panasonic FH1 vs Panasonic ZS100

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Panasonic FH1 versus Panasonic ZS100, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both built by Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the FH1 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the FH1 (1/2.3") and ZS100 (1") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The FH1 was manufactured 7 years before the ZS100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the FH1 matches up against the ZS100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FH1 Gallery and Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH1 provides external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS100 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH1 versus Panasonic ZS100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the FH1 vs the ZS100.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FH1 and ZS100 is 95 and 87 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The pic below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH1 and ZS100.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FH1 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic ZS100 will provide extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged FH1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.