Panasonic Lumix FH10 vs Sony Cyber-shot W710: Small Sensor Compact Cameras Compared in Detail

Choosing the right compact camera can be surprisingly complex, especially with options like the Panasonic Lumix FH10 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710 that seem similar on paper. Both target casual photographers seeking an affordable, pocket-friendly point-and-shoot. But when you dig into the details, subtle differences emerge - differences that influence everything from image quality to usability in the field.

Having tested both cameras extensively in varied shooting environments, we’ll unpack their key features and performance aspects. This comprehensive comparison goes beyond specs, drawing on hands-on experience to guide photographers of all skill levels toward an informed purchase.

Compact Body and Ergonomics: Which Feels Right in Your Hand?

The very first impression of a camera often comes down to its size, handfeel, and control layout. Both Panasonic FH10 and Sony W710 embrace the classic compact form factor but with slight differences in physical dimensions.

The Panasonic FH10 is marginally smaller and lighter - ideal if pocketability is your priority. It’s sleek but a bit minimal on physical controls, which means quick adjustments require menu diving rather than dedicated dials or buttons.

The Sony W710, on the other hand, trades slightly more bulk for robust button spacing and the convenience of a touchscreen LCD. This makes shooting on the go more intuitive for users who prefer tapping options rather than cycling through menus.

For many, these ergonomics differences are subtle but meaningful during extended use - especially when shooting on the move.

Design and Interface: Ease of Use for Everyday Shooting

Both cameras offer straightforward operation aimed at casual shooters and beginners. However, their interface approaches diverge:

• Panasonic FH10 uses a traditional small LCD and tactile buttons but lacks touchscreen capability.
• Sony W710 features the same screen size but integrates touchscreen support, facilitating faster menu navigation and previewing images with a finger swipe.

Neither camera offers manual exposure controls or advanced shooting modes. That means you won’t find aperture priority, shutter priority, or manual mode here. Instead, both rely fully on automatic systems - with some limited options like custom white balance (both) and exposure compensation (limited).

In practical shooting:

• The Panasonic’s interface feels more like a simple snapshot device.
• Sony’s touchscreen allows quicker adjustments when switching scene modes or reviewing images, which can be a boon for spontaneous shooting.

Considering the target user, the Sony’s touchscreen interface edges ahead in user-friendliness for novices experimenting with the camera.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: What Can 1/2.3" CCD Sensors Deliver?

Both cameras sport a 1/2.3” CCD sensor at 16 megapixels - a common size for compact “point-and-shoot” cameras in this price bracket. Here’s a closer look at what that means for image quality:

CCD sensors tend to produce pleasing image colors and good detail under well-lit conditions. However, they typically struggle with noise at high ISO levels compared to more modern CMOS sensors.

From real-world tests:

• Both cameras deliver decent 16MP resolution shots at ISO 100–400.
• Panasonic’s higher maximum ISO (6400 vs. Sony’s 3200) theoretically allows for better low-light shots but in practice, image degradation at high ISO is significant on both.
• Neither excels in dynamic range - shadows can clip and highlights can blow out quickly in contrasty scenes typical of landscapes or architecture.

Given these limitations, the cameras are best suited for daylight and well-lit indoor photography.

If you crave crisp image files for extensive cropping or large prints, neither camera compares to larger sensor models, but they do well to deliver good quality 4x6 or 5x7 prints.

LCD Display and Live View Experience

Both cameras come with non-articulated 2.7-inch LCDs with 230k pixel resolution - basic but serviceable. Yet, the difference in touchscreen support on the Sony W710 helps streamline the shooting workflow:

• Panasonic FH10:
  • Fixed non-touch LCD
  • Brightness adjustable via menu
  • No live histogram, limiting exposure visualization
• Sony W710:
  • Touch-enabled screen (unusual for this category)
  • Allows touch focus and menu navigation, easing operation
  • Offers basic live view exposure info

Neither offers a viewfinder, requiring you to compose shots solely via the LCD. In bright outdoor conditions, you may struggle to see the screen clearly due to glare - a common issue in entry-level compacts.

If you prioritize quick framing and immediate exposure feedback, Sony’s touchscreen LCD slightly improves the experience.

Lens Range and Optical Performance: Zoom, Aperture, and Macro Capabilities

Both cameras employ non-removable zoom lenses typical of the compact category. Here’s how they stack up:

Key takeaways:

• The Panasonic is slightly wider at the wide end (26mm vs. 28mm), which gives you more room in tight spaces or landscape shots.
• Sony reaches a bit farther telephoto (140mm vs. 130mm), enhancing reach for casual wildlife or portrait compression.
• Panasonic’s wider aperture at the lens’ wide end (f/2.8 vs f/3.2) allows more light, a minor advantage in low light.
• For macro, Panasonic’s 5cm minimum focus distance lets you get closer for close-ups and fine detail than Sony’s 10cm, which can be quite limiting for enthusiasts of flower or insect photography.

Both cameras’ optical image stabilization helps reduce blur from hand shake, improving sharpness at telephoto or in lower light.

Panasonic FH10 front Panasonic FH10 screen back Sony W710 front Sony W710 screen back

Image Quality in Practice: Skin Tones, Color Rendition, and Sharpness

We tested both cameras shooting portraits, landscapes, and everyday scenarios under varied lighting. Here’s a distilled view of important user-focused image qualities:

• Portraits:

  • Panasonic FH10: Produces warm, natural skin tones with decent color saturation; however, the bokeh is limited by the small sensor and slower aperture at telephoto.
  • Sony W710: Slightly cooler rendering, with more contrast; integrates face detection autofocus, aiding focus on faces even though the sensor and lens limits shallow depth-of-field effects.

• Landscape:

  • Both deliver good resolution but struggle with dynamic range on high-contrast scenes - lose detail in bright sky or shaded foregrounds.
  • Colors are vibrant but can lean toward mild oversaturation (Sony) or neutral (Panasonic).

• Macro and Close-Ups:

  • Panasonic’s ability to focus down to 5cm allows better detail capture and more dramatic close-ups.
  • Sony manages macro shots less effectively due to 10cm minimum focus.

Both cameras produce sharp images in good light but softness and visible noise creep in beyond ISO 400.

Autofocus Systems and Performance: Speed and Accuracy

Here’s how their autofocus stacks in real-world use:

The Panasonic FH10 impresses with continuous AF and tracking, which is rare in this entry-level category. However, it lacks face detection, which can slow you down on portraits or group shots where quick focus on faces matters.

Sony integrates face detection autofocus and touch-to-focus on its screen, making it simpler to prioritize subjects. However, continuous AF is disabled, reducing tracking effectiveness for moving subjects.

For shooting people or pets with ease of focus, Sony takes an edge. But for static scenes and some action, Panasonic’s continuous AF helps maintain sharp results. Both suffer in low-light AF performance due to the CCD sensor.

Video Capabilities: HD Recording for Memories, Not Cinema

Both cameras offer 720p HD video at 30 fps:

MJPEG on Panasonic creates larger files for the same length compared to the more efficient AVCHD/MPEG-4 on Sony - impacting storage and playback compatibility.

Neither camera supports external mics or headphones, limiting video production quality and monitoring options.

For casual family clips or quick social sharing, both suffice. However, neither is equipped for demanding video creators or vloggers.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Long shooting times and convenient file handling are essential for travel and extended outings:

Both cameras share typical limitations of compact cameras in connectivity - no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth - meaning transferring photos requires wired connection or removing the memory card.

Panasonic holds a small advantage in battery life, enough for a day’s casual shooting. Support for multiple memory card formats on the Sony adds convenient flexibility in storage media.

Overall Performance and Value for Money

To summarize holistic performance we evaluated seven core categories:

With street prices hovering around $110 for the Panasonic and $90 for the Sony, both are budget-friendly options. Sony’s touchscreen, face detection AF, and storage flexibility improve its appeal at a lower price point.

Suitability for Different Photography Types

Portraits
Both cameras handle portraits reasonably well for casual use. Sony’s face detection autofocus improves focus accuracy on subject faces; however, shallow depth of field and bokeh quality are limited by tiny sensors and slow apertures.

Landscape
You’ll want the slightly wider 26mm lens of the Panasonic for sweeping landscapes. Neither camera offers robust dynamic range; shooting in overcast conditions or using exposure compensation is recommended.

Wildlife
With only modest telephoto zoom and slow continuous shooting (1 fps for both), neither camera suits serious wildlife or action photography.

Sports
Similar story: 1 fps continuous shooting and contrast-detection AF limit performance on fast-moving subjects.

Street Photography
Compact size favors both. Sony’s touchscreen ease of use and face detection favors discreet street shooting with fast focus. Panasonic’s smaller size earns a slight nod for pure portability.

Macro Photography
Panasonic excels with closer minimum focusing distance (5cm vs 10cm), allowing more creative close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography
Small sensors and limited ISO capabilities restrict use here. You can capture night scenes but expect significant noise past ISO 400.

Video
Ideal only for casual home videos. Sony’s better codec support and touchscreen slightly improve the shooting experience.

Travel Photography
On the road, Panasonic’s smaller size and longer battery life appeal; Sony’s flexible storage and touchscreen remain advantageous for casual shooters.

Professional Use
No raw support, limited controls, and modest sensor performance make these strictly consumer cameras, suitable only for informal professional scenarios.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Both the Panasonic Lumix FH10 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710 deliver solid bang for the buck in the entry-level compact camera category. They’re great secondary devices or first steps for new photographers wanting better quality than smartphone snaps without the complexity and size of DSLRs or mirrorless systems.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FH10 if you:

• Prioritize the smallest, lightest camera profile for carrying ease
• Want a wider lens and better macro capabilities for close-up photography
• Value longer battery life for day-long shooting
• Don’t mind non-touchscreen operation and simpler controls

Opt for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710 if you:

• Appreciate touchscreen interaction to speed up settings and playback
• Want face detection autofocus to assist portrait and group shots
• Prefer a bit more telephoto reach (up to 140mm)
• Need flexible storage support including Memory Stick options
• Want the best value where price is a significant concern

Both cameras have obvious limits in autofocus speed, low-light performance, and manual controls. But they make attractive choices for casual photography, travel, and everyday snapshots.

Next Steps:
If you like either model’s strengths, check them out in a store for feel and handling before buying. Many retailers allow hands-on testing, which really helps confirm your comfort with controls and overall experience.

Consider pairing with an affordable SD card of at least Class 10 speed to maximize burst and video shooting capabilities.

Finally, remember that unlocking your creative journey with photography does not hinge solely on equipment. These compact cameras can be wonderful companions as you explore light, composition, and storytelling with your images.

Thank you for joining us on this detailed Panasonic FH10 vs Sony W710 comparison. Happy shooting, and may your next camera support your vision perfectly!

Related Reads & Resources

• Beginner’s Guide to Compact Cameras: Pros and Cons Explained
• How to Get Better Portraits With Point-and-Shoot Cameras
• Best Accessories for Travel Compact Cameras
• Understanding Sensor Sizes and their Impact on Image Quality

If you want a side-by-side quick specs summary or need help picking lenses and accessories for different camera systems, let us know in the comments below!