From Pocketable to Pro-Grade: A Thorough Comparison of the Panasonic Lumix FH2 and Samsung NX1

When it comes to choosing a camera, the gulf between a compact point-and-shoot and a pro-level mirrorless camera can feel as vast as a canyon. But that’s exactly what we’re exploring today: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 - a small sensor compact introduced at the start of 2011 - and the Samsung NX1, a 2014 flagship mirrorless offering built for professionals and serious enthusiasts alike.

Both cameras aim to capture moments, but they do so from completely different design philosophies, technological playgrounds, and price points (spoiler alert: one is under $200, the other pushes $1,500). With 15+ years of testing, shooting, and scrutinizing gear ranging from tiny compacts to full-frame beasts, I’m excited to take you through this head-to-head, focusing on how each performs in the real world - not just specs on paper.

Grab your favorite beverage and maybe a comfy chair. We’re about to get nerdy, detailed, and - I hope - helpful.

A Tale of Two Cameras: Size, Build, and Handling

Before zooming into pixels and autofocus algorithms, it pays to start with the basics: how these cameras feel in your hands and pockets.

The Panasonic FH2 embodies classic compactness: a slim, pocket-friendly shape measuring 94 x 54 x 19 mm and weighing a mere 121 grams. It’s designed for effortless carry - toss it in your coat pocket or bag with zero fuss. Ergonomically, it’s about as minimalist as it gets, featuring a fixed 2.7-inch screen with a modest 230k-dot resolution and no viewfinder. If you’re coming from smartphone photography, navigating the FH2’s controls won’t be intimidating, but the lack of customizable buttons or manual dials limits flexibility.

Contrast that with the Samsung NX1, an SLR-style mirrorless camera built like a small tank for demanding use. At 139 x 102 x 66 mm and 550 grams, it’s substantially bigger and heavier, but not unmanageable for long shooting sessions. The NX1 boasts a solid magnesium alloy body, weather sealing that protects against dust and light moisture, and a thoughtfully contoured grip that feels great for extended shoots.

The NX1's rear sports a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with a higher 1,036k-dot resolution and a high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,360k dots - truly luxurious for framing and reviewing shots outdoors.

From my experience, while the Panasonic FH2 slips into your pocket and waits quietly for spur-of-the-moment snaps, the Samsung NX1 actively invites you to create. Its controls, including shutter, ISO, aperture rings, and customizable buttons, make it a joy for photographers accustomed to manual tweaking. The FH2 is snack-sized convenience; the NX1 is a full-course meal.

Under the Hood: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

To the pixel junkies: here’s where these cameras diverge dramatically.

The FH2 houses a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.08 x 4.56 mm, equating to an imaging area around 27.7 mm². Panasonic’s Venus Engine IV processor handles image rendering, but given the tiny sensor, inherent limitations in dynamic range, noise performance, and color depth come as no surprise.

The NX1, on the other hand, sports a 28-megapixel APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor sized 23.5 x 15.7 mm - roughly 369 mm², a staggering 13x larger than the FH2’s. Its back-illuminated design pushes sensitivity and noise reduction even further, paired with Samsung's robust DRIMe 5 processor.

Here’s how they stack up in practical terms: The NX1 delivered an overall DxOMark score of 83, boasting a remarkable color depth of 24.2 bits and dynamic range of 13.2 EV stops. The FH2 hasn’t officially been tested on DxOMark, but the consensus from my tests and lab results echoes a modest performance - its results typical for small CCD sensors of its era, with a noticeable drop-off in low light and contrast.

Shooting landscapes on the FH2 is, frankly, limited by its small sensor and fixed lens. Output looks good for social sharing or 4x6 prints but falls short when viewed up close or enlarged.

With the NX1, fine details snap crisply, with vibrant skin tones and excellent color reproduction. High-ISO images stay clean up to ISO 3200, making this camera a go-to for low-light environments - night scenes, indoor events, or astro work - where the FH2 simply caves in with smudgy shadows and luminance noise.

In sum, image quality is where the price gap becomes most apparent - and justified.

Shooting Modes, Autofocus, and Performance Workflow

Now, let’s talk about how these cameras capture the moment.

The Panasonic FH2’s autofocus system is basic contrast-detection, with 11 focus points and face detection. It can do single AF, tracking AF (sort of), and touch AF (on-screen). Continuous shooting clocks at an unexciting 4 frames per second.

The Samsung NX1 pushes the envelope with its hybrid autofocus system: combining on-chip phase-detection (209 points, including 153 cross-type) and contrast detection to nail focus rapidly and accurately. It supports continuous AF, face detection, selective AF areas, and fast eye-detection (human, but not animal). The burst shooting rate hits a professional-grade 15fps with full AF-C, quite impressive in its price segment.

From my trial runs, tracking fast-moving subjects with the FH2 felt like chasing smoke - it often hunted focus, especially in low contrast or darker settings, making it frustrating for sports or wildlife work. The NX1, however, confidently locked focus and tracked bird flight or athletes with precision, showing zero hesitation and minimal focus shifts on burst sequences.

When you need a camera to keep pace with your increasingly fast shutter finger, the NX1 clearly outperforms.

Design Details: Controls, Screen, and User Interface

Controls may seem minor in a world obsessed with megapixels, but they heavily influence shooting enjoyment and efficiency.

The FH2 has a very simple control layout: a small shutter button, zoom lever, a mode dial with presets (no manual aperture or shutter priority modes), and menu navigation via a relatively low-res fixed LCD screen.

On the flip side, the NX1 offers a top LCD display for glanceable key info plus a richly customizable interface. The rear touchscreen works smoothly, supports tapping to focus, and the OLED EVF provides an excellent framing experience. The ergonomics include dedicated ISO, exposure compensation dials, and programmable function keys, suiting every style: from quick point-and-shoot to deliberate manual operation.

In use, the Panasonic FH2 feels a little “set it and forget it” with limited tweakability, well suited to casual moments when fumbling or complex navigation isn’t desired. The NX1, meanwhile, is a workhorse designed to let photographers work fast without compromising creative control - a workflow ally for professionals.

Lens System and Versatility

The FH2’s integrated 28-112mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.1-6.5 lens offers a decent zoom range for everyday use and snap candid street scenes. Macro capability goes down to 5 cm, capturing small details reasonably - but remember this is a fixed lens, so you’re limited by optical quality and aperture range.

The NX1, with Samsung’s NX mount, supports 32 different lenses, ranging from ultra-wide primes to long telephotos and dedicated macro optics. That versatility defines its appeal for diverse genres - from birding with a 500mm supertele to portraiture with fast f/1.4 primes or landscapes captured with sharp wide-angle glass.

The absence of in-body image stabilization in the NX1 does push some photographers to rely on stabilized lenses or tripods. The FH2 compensates somewhat by offering optical image stabilization in-camera - but the trade-off is its lens speed and focal flexibility.

In short, if you crave variety and lens quality, the NX1 radically outperforms. For casual shooters wanting an all-in-one pocket solution, the FH2 lens suffices.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The FH2 runs on a proprietary battery pack rated for about 270 shots on a charge - adequate for a half-day outing, but you’ll want spares for longer adventures. It offers basic USB 2.0 connectivity for image transfer but no wireless, no Bluetooth, no GPS.

The NX1 shines here with a larger battery delivering approximately 500 shots per charge and highly efficient power management. Connectivity options are robust: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC for rapid file transfer and remote control, plus USB 3.0 ports and full HDMI output. It even supports external microphones and headphones, making it very video-friendly.

For travel or extended shooting, NX1’s reliability and connectivity offer a distinct advantage.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Let’s zoom in on how each camera fares in the most popular photography disciplines, bearing in mind their vastly different designs and price tags.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh Magic

The FH2’s small sensor and modest lens range limit portrait potential. Background blur is shallow, bokeh is often harsh, and the lens aperture maxes at f/3.1, limiting subject isolation. Skin tones are decent in good light but tend to flatten under tricky lighting. Still, it’s fine for casual snapshots.

The NX1 delivers beautiful, punchy portraits with excellent color fidelity and creamy, smooth bokeh thanks to fast lenses like the 56mm f/1.4. Eye detection autofocus helps keep focus right where it belongs. If portraits are your main gig, NX1 is a clear winner.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Detail Richness

Despite the FH2’s limited resolution and small sensor, landscapes at wide angles offer decent snapshots for web use, but fine texture and shadow detail are lost. No weather sealing also means cautious outdoor prep.

NX1’s superior sensor and 28MP resolution capture fine landscapes with huge dynamic range, tight details, and excellent noise control at low ISO. Weather sealing is a bonus if you shoot in unpredictable environments.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Rate

The FH2 struggles here: slow autofocus, limited continuous shooting, and lens speed mean it’s simply not designed for demanding subjects on the move.

The NX1, with its blazing 15fps burst and 209 focus points including cross-types, accurately tracks fast subjects - whether it’s a cheetah in the wild or a soccer player mid-kick.

Street and Travel Photography: Discreet Use and Portability

For stealthy street snaps or travel, the FH2’s size and lightweight body are huge pluses. It won’t intimidate subjects, slides easily into pockets, and its fixed zoom lens is versatile for most moments.

The NX1’s bulk is noticeable, but the retractable lens option and tilting screen make framing in awkward spots easier. Battery life ensures longer days shooting far from power. Though portable, it’s less discreet.

Macro and Night/Astro: Focusing Precision and Low-Light Capacity

While the FH2 has a macro mode with a close focus distance of 5cm, image quality at this scale is constrained by sensor limitations.

The NX1 supports dedicated macro lenses with precise focus and excels in night shooting due to high ISO performance, long exposures, and 4K video capacities. Astro photographers can push it further with manual controls and noise reduction.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic FH2 records 720p at 30fps in motion JPEG format - adequate for casual clips but dated by today’s standards.

By contrast, the Samsung NX1 shoots 4K UHD at 30p and DCI 4K at 24p encoded in efficient H.265, offering crisp detail and professional video codecs. It also supports microphone and headphone jacks, improving audio quality for vloggers or filmmakers.

Summary of Technical Strengths and Weaknesses

Here’s a quick visual snapshot reinforcing this detailed narrative:

Panasonic FH2 front Panasonic FH2 screen back Samsung NX1 front Samsung NX1 screen back

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose Panasonic Lumix FH2 if…

• You want a no-fuss, ultra-compact camera to pocket and shoot spontaneous everyday moments.
• Your photography is casual, focusing on snapshots and social media sharing.
• You are budget-conscious and don’t need advanced manual controls or high image quality.
• Portability and ease-of-use outweigh image fidelity or professional features.

Choose Samsung NX1 if…

• You are a serious enthusiast or pro seeking advanced speed, precision, and versatility.
• Your photography spans portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, or hybrid video.
• You desire a robust lens ecosystem and high-grade image quality in an affordable APS-C mirrorless.
• You want a camera built to last, perform in tough conditions, and integrate into complex workflows.

Closing Thoughts

As someone who’s carried both cameras extensively - yes, the FH2 has accompanied me on spontaneous family trips, while the NX1 served faithfully at a few fast-paced sports matches - I must say that these cameras do what they set out for admirably well.

The Panasonic Lumix FH2 reminds us that sometimes convenience and simplicity win hearts, especially when your photography is casual and unburdened by technical worries. Meanwhile, the Samsung NX1 showcases how far mirrorless technology had advanced by 2014 - delivering features and performance that, while demanding a heftier investment, empower creativity at every turn.

As always, no camera is perfect. Your choice boils down to your vision, budget, and shooting style. Hopefully, this deep dive helps you feel confident in whichever route you take - whether pocket-sized spontaneity or full-fledged photographic expression.

Happy shooting!