Panasonic FH10 vs Pentax K100D Super: An Experienced Photographer’s Comprehensive Comparison

When it comes to cameras, the choices on the market span a spectrum from ultra-compact point-and-shoots to thoughtfully engineered DSLRs, each catering to different photographers’ needs, skill levels, and budgets. Today, I’m diving deep into two very different models that might initially seem to serve different camps but also invite comparison - the 2013 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10 compact camera and the 2007 Pentax K100D Super entry-level DSLR. Both cameras come from respected brands but target distinct photography philosophies. Which one should you consider investing your time, energy, and precious money in? Let’s find out, through my lens of hands-on testing and years of camera experience.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Design

Size and feel matter more than many casual buyers realize. A camera is a tactile tool; I’ve lost count of times I’ve abandoned gear that felt awkward or flimsy after a day shooting.

Right out of the gate, the Panasonic FH10 is ultra-compact and pocket-friendly, designed for grab-and-go convenience. Measuring a mere 94 x 54 x 18 mm and weighing just 103 grams, it slips easily into a jacket pocket. The build is typical of consumer compacts - lightweight plastic, no frills, but with enough sturdiness for casual use. Controls are minimal and straightforward, fitting its beginner-friendly intent.

Contrast that with the Pentax K100D Super, a bona fide DSLR with a heftier 646 grams and dimensions of 129 x 91 x 71 mm. It offers a solid grip and a robust (albeit plasticky) chassis that feels like it was built for more serious shooting sessions. The larger body accommodates physical dials and switches, along with a top LCD status panel - a feature classic DSLRs aficionados appreciate.

For those prioritizing portability and ultimate convenience, the FH10’s form factor is a winner. Yet, if you want a camera you can hold onto firmly during long shoots or rougher conditions, the K100D Super’s bulk aligns with my experience of more secure handling and greater comfort.

User Interface and Control Layout: How Do They Feel in Action?

Navigation and camera operation impact how quickly you can capture compelling images - crucial when moments fly by.

The Panasonic FH10’s control interface is basic: a 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD screen without touch, no electronic viewfinder, and limited manual control options. It leans heavily on automatic modes, with no shutter or aperture priority settings. Exposure compensation is absent, and the menus favor simplicity over depth. The flash controls are straightforward but limited to built-in options. A notable plus is an optical image stabilizer that helps sidestep blur from shaky hands.

On the other hand, the Pentax K100D Super embodies classic DSLR ergonomics with a top LCD panel displaying key info - shutter speed, aperture, battery life - without the need to power up the camera. It boasts a pentamirror optical viewfinder covering 96% frame, reinforcing precise composition, especially in bright environments where LCDs struggle to perform. The 2.5-inch rear LCD is slightly smaller and less sharp (210k dots), but the interface offers far more manual control: shutter priority, aperture priority, full manual exposure, exposure compensation, and programmable burst shooting. AF control includes 11 focus points, though all contrast with today’s far more advanced systems.

In daily shooting, FH10 owners will appreciate its simplicity but may feel limited for creative control. In contrast, K100D Super users gain a tactile and immersive experience conducive to learning and growing as photographers.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of Photography

Image quality is often king, and this is where the fundamental differences between these cameras emerge.

The Panasonic FH10 uses a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (just about 28 mm²). It captures 16 megapixels at a maximum resolution of 4608x3456. The sensor size and technology place it firmly in the small sensor compact category, which historically means more noise at higher ISOs, limited dynamic range, and reduced fine detail capture.

The Pentax K100D Super employs a much larger APS-C sized CCD sensor, measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm (nearly 369 mm²), delivering 6 megapixels at 3008x2008 resolution. Though lower in megapixels, the bigger sensor translates to larger pixels that collect more light, improving low light performance, dynamic range, color fidelity, and depth of field control.

In hands-on testing, the K100D Super’s sensor produces much cleaner images at ISO settings up to 800, with noticeably better detail retention and less noise than the FH10. The latter fares reasonably well in bright daylight but struggles quickly as light dims or shadows deepen. Color depth feels a bit shallow, and image files offer limited scope for heavy editing. The blurred background looks flat and mechanical, whereas the K100D Super provides smoother transitions and more natural skin tones, owing to the optical lens quality and larger sensor.

Dynamic range - critical for landscapes and scenes mixing bright highlights with shadows - is noticeably superior on the Pentax. Even though the sensor is only 6MP, the quality tradeoff here benefits those aiming for printed enlargements or professional use.

Viewing and Display: How Do You Frame Your Shot?

Few things disrupt the photographic flow like struggling to compose your shot.

The Panasonic FH10’s 2.7-inch LCD screen delivers 230k dots - serviceable but dull and often washed out in sunlight. It’s fixed, not articulated, and offers no touchscreen interactivity. Without an electronic or optical viewfinder, holding the camera steady at eye level feels unnatural and fosters wobble, especially in low light.

The Pentax K100D Super delivers a classic optical viewfinder experience: a pentamirror with decent brightness and 96% coverage. While that isn’t 100%, it’s typical for entry-level DSLRs. The 0.57x magnification means what you see through the eyepiece feels adequately immersive. By comparison, its rear 2.5-inch LCD screen is smaller and lower resolution than the FH10’s but sits behind the camera, making it easier to stabilize shots when using the EV.

For me, nothing beats the optical viewfinder in challenging light or active scenarios, but for casual casual snapshots, the FH10’s bigger, brighter screen means less squinting - provided you’re in a shaded place.

Autofocus, Speed, and Burst: How Fast Can They Capture the Moment?

Swift autofocus and continuous shooting capability define cameras used for wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The Panasonic FH10’s autofocus system is contrast-detection only, with no phase detection, and an unknown number of focus points. Its continuous shooting tops out at a leisurely 1 frame per second - practically snail-speed by any standard. Autofocus operation is “single,” “continuous,” and “tracking” modes that work well for static subjects but falter tracking erratic movement. No face or eye detection is available.

The Pentax K100D Super introduces phase detection autofocus with 11 focus points, improving lock-on speed and precision. While it lacks modern face or eye detection, the system is reliable for static and moderately moving subjects. Continuous shooting reaches 3 fps, a fair pace for entry-level DSLRs of its vintage but not stellar by today’s metrics.

In real-world use, fast-moving subjects (sports, wildlife) require the K100D Super for even a chance at crisp sharpness. The FH10’s slow AF and burst frame rate make it more of a casual snapshot camera than a dynamic shooter’s tool.

Optics and Lens Ecosystem: Flexibility Matters

Let’s talk glass - or rather, lens options.

The Panasonic FH10 employs a fixed 5x zoom lens with a focal range equivalent to 26-130 mm, variable aperture from f/2.8 to f/6.9. The optical image stabilizer helps reduce shake. While convenient, the fixed lens restricts versatility and optical quality is limited - expect softness at telephoto, and barrel distortion at wide ends.

The Pentax K100D Super uses the Pentax KAF2 mount, compatible with a significant ecosystem of over 150 lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to monstrous telephotos and high-quality macro lenses. This system flexibility allows photographers to tailor their gear: fast primes for portraits and low-light, super-teles for wildlife, or ultra-macros for close-up work.

Access to such a spectrum is invaluable for serious enthusiasts and professionals.

Build Quality and Reliability: Can These Cameras Stand the Test?

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or rugged construction. Panasonic FH10 is aimed at casual users, so its plastic body lacks reinforcement; treat it gently.

The K100D Super, typical of DSLRs, offers sturdier bodywork and more reliable shutter mechanisms. Although not weather-sealed, it’s built for consistent use over years - I have colleagues whose K100D and K100D Supers have logged thousands of clicks with minimal issues.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

Here’s a practical comparison of endurance and workflow.

Panasonic FH10 uses a proprietary battery pack providing up to 260 shots per charge and stores images on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards or internal memory. No Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, no GPS - meaning no easy wireless transfer or geo-tagging.

The Pentax K100D Super uses readily available 4x AA batteries, a blessing and curse. A blessing, because you can grab batteries almost anywhere; a curse, as battery life tends to fluctuate and replacement costs over time may add up. Storage uses SD/SDHC cards only. The lack of tethering or wireless connectivity reflects its 2007 era.

Image Output and File Formats: Flexibility for Post-Processing

One big differentiator: RAW file support.

FH10 shoots JPEGs only, which limits your post-processing latitude and image quality recovery. Pentax K100D Super offers both RAW and JPEG, providing tremendous creative freedom. For photographers who like to push images in Photoshop or Lightroom, or preserve maximum dynamic range, RAW is essential.

Specialized Photography Genres: Where Each Camera Shines and Stumbles

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic FH10: The small sensor and fixed zoom lens mean shallow depth-of-field effects are minimal; bokeh can appear “digitally flat”. Skin tones are decent in good light but often slightly oversaturated due to JPEG processing. No eye detection AF makes critical focus a challenge.

• Pentax K100D Super: Larger sensor plus access to fast primes enables smooth background blur and accurate skin tone rendition. The 11-point phase-detection AF helps focus on faces, and exposure controls allow nuanced skin tone captures.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic FH10: Limited by its sensor dynamic range, producing images with blown highlights in tricky light. Resolution is reasonable for casual sharing but poor for serious prints. Lack of weather sealing is a drawback outdoors.

• Pentax K100D Super: APS-C sensor’s dynamic range and RAW capability expand post-processing flexibility. Higher image detail in raw files yields better large prints. Though no weather sealing, its sturdier build better resists elements.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Panasonic FH10: AF speed and burst rate insufficient to capture fast action. Fixed zoom range effective for casual telephoto shots but image quality degrades at longer focal lengths.

• Pentax K100D Super: Phase-detection AF and 3 fps burst allow better subject tracking. The real advantage is being able to mount a super-tele lens for reach and sharpness.

Street Photography

• Panasonic FH10: Its compact size and quiet operation suit candid shooting. However, slow AF and lack of manual controls can hamper spontaneity.

• Pentax K100D Super: Bulkier and less discreet, plus noisy shutter. But manual controls facilitate rapid exposure adjustments on the fly.

Macro Photography

• Panasonic FH10: Macro focusing down to 5 cm helps casual close-ups, but aperture and lens optics limit sharpness and blur control.

• Pentax K100D Super: Lens choices include dedicated macros with excellent sharpness and working distances.

Night and Astro Photography

• Panasonic FH10: ISO ceiling of 6400 is theoretical; effectively limited to 400-800 for minimally noisy images. No manual exposure priority modes make long exposures tricky.

• Pentax K100D Super: ISO max at 3200 but with larger pixels gives cleaner images. Manual exposure and bulb modes enable long exposure star trails and astro shots.

Video Capabilities

• Panasonic FH10: Shoots 720p HD video at 30 fps using Motion JPEG format, quite basic by modern standards.

• Pentax K100D Super: No video functionality.

Travel Photography

• Panasonic FH10: Light, compact, and easy to carry - ideal for travel snapshots.

• Pentax K100D Super: Bulkier with extra lenses, less spontaneous. But image quality and creative control pay off for serious trip photography.

Professional Work and Workflow Integration

• Panasonic FH10: Limited by no RAW and restricted controls; suited only for casual or backup use.

• Pentax K100D Super: RAW files, manual exposure modes, and lens options make it viable for professionals on a budget.

Overall Performance and Rankings

Pulling it all together - I assessed both cameras across a range of attributes and photography genres.

Panasonic FH10 front Panasonic FH10 screen back Pentax K100D S front Pentax K100D S screen back

The Pentax K100D Super outperforms the Panasonic FH10 on almost every meaningful front aside from portability and simplicity. It is superior in image quality, autofocus, manual controls, and creative flexibility. The FH10 shines only in casual point-and-shoot ease and pocketability.

Who Is Each Camera For? My Recommendations

• If you value lightweight convenience and simple point-and-shoot operation to snap vacation memories or family moments and don’t plan any serious editing - the Panasonic FH10 serves well within that niche and budget (~$110).

• If you want an entry-level DSLR experience with significant scope for creativity, manual control, and better image quality, plus the ability to grow your lens collection and shoot in challenging conditions, the Pentax K100D Super (currently around $520) is a solid choice - especially for beginners eager to learn the craft.

In Conclusion: Real-World Experience Matters

Having tested thousands of cameras across various genres, I can say that the gap between a small sensor compact like Panasonic’s FH10 and an APS-C DSLR like Pentax’s K100D Super is large and consequential. The FH10 is a modest, affordable snapshot tool. The K100D Super offers a foundation for lasting photographic growth and artistic expression. Your decision should reflect how deeply you want to engage with photography and whether convenience outweighs control in your workflow.

Whichever you pick, remember: the most important camera is the one you’ll use enthusiastically.

Happy shooting!