Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 vs. Samsung NX30: A Hands-On Comparative Review

Choosing your next camera can feel like navigating a labyrinth, especially when devices come from vastly different segments and price points. Today, I’m dissecting two such cameras: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 (pronounced “F-H2”) and the Samsung NX30. At first glance, the $149 Panasonic FH2 and the nearly fivefold pricer NX30 ($699) might seem worlds apart - and they are. Yet, understanding how they perform relative to each other in real-world shooting situations can help you zero in on what’s right for you.

Having put thousands of cameras through rigorous testing over the last 15+ years, I’m here to cut through marketing mumbo jumbo and jargon, and deliver practical, honest, data-backed insight. So let’s dive in!

First Impressions: Size, Shape, and Handling

Before firing up the cameras, your hands will tell you a lot about comfort and usability. The Panasonic FH2 is a petite compact built for snapping happy moments on the fly, whereas the NX30 is a fully-fledged, mirrorless, SLR-style camera designed to be wielded like a traditional DSLR.

Physically, the Panasonic FH2 measures a dainty 94x54x19 mm and weighs only 121 grams. It slips effortlessly into a jacket pocket or small purse, making it an excellent companion for street photographers and casual travelers who loathe bulky gear but want decent zoom range (28-112 mm equivalent).

The Samsung NX30 is much chunkier at 127x96x58 mm and 375 grams, a natural consequence of its APS-C sensor and mirrorless design. It sports sculpted grip contours and clubs for thumbs, excellent for longer sessions and pro-style control. It feels solid and substantial, and although not small, it remains portable for enthusiasts accustomed to mirrorless rigs.

Controls on the NX30 are densely packed yet intuitive - exposure compensation, ISO, aperture/shutter dials, and an OLED top display are there for quick adjustments. On the FH2, expect minimal physical buttons and no advanced exposure modes - snap and shoot only, with manual white balance and face/contrast-detection autofocus to help out.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

Knowing what each camera’s image sensor is capable of is paramount. Here’s where the gulf between these two widens into an abyss.

The Panasonic FH2 sports a tiny 1/2.3” CCD sensor of just 27.72 mm² (14 megapixels). While adequate for web photos and casual printing, this sensor size is challenged by noise at higher ISOs and limited dynamic range. Meanwhile, the Samsung NX30 packs a roomy 23.5x15.7 mm (APS-C) CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels, substantially larger in area at 368.95 mm².

The sensor size difference means the NX30 can capture cleaner images, with richer color depth (DxO marks confirm 23.5 bits color depth vs. Panasonic’s untested but known limited color range), wider dynamic range (12.4 stops), and better noise handling (ISO performance factor over 1000 vs. much lower in the FH2).

In practice, this translates to punchier landscapes, superior portraits with smoother skin tones, and more flexibility recovering shadows and highlights in challenging lighting. The FH2 can handle daylight snaps well, but I wouldn’t rely on its output for anything beyond casual use.

Viewing Your Shot: Screen and Viewfinder

The experience of composing your shot is as important as the capture itself.

FH2 users will find a small fixed 2.7-inch 230K-dot LCD, without touchscreen or articulation. This makes it less effective for shooting at awkward angles, or delivering sharp live feedback. In contrast, the NX30 boasts a large 3-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 1,036K dots and full articulation - great for vlogging or shooting from creative perspectives.

Moreover, the NX30 offers a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,359K dots and 100% coverage, providing a DSLR-like eye-level view. This is missing from the FH2, which relies solely on the LCD.

If you’re a street shooter or low-light enthusiast who prefers a viewfinder, NX30’s EVF is a clear winner.

Autofocus, Burst Rates, and Real-World Shooting Performance

A camera’s AF system can make or break your experience, especially in action, wildlife, sports, and portraiture.

The Panasonic FH2 employs contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and 11 focus points. It supports basic AF tracking, but speed is sluggish - no continuous AF or manual focus override here. Burst is capped at 4 fps, with no buffer to speak of.

The NX30 ups the ante with hybrid autofocus, combining phase detection and contrast-detection on a robust 247-point AF system. It supports continuous AF for tracking moving subjects and advanced face detection. Burst shooting speeds reach 9 fps, forgiving enough for most sports and wildlife scenes.

Personally, I found the NX30’s AF to be responsive and dead-on accurate in daylight. The FH2 was noticeably slower and prone to hunting in lower light - adequate for sitting portraits or casual vacation snaps but limiting elsewhere.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

One major advantage of the NX30 is its Samsung NX lens mount, compatible with over 30 native lenses - from fast primes to versatile zooms. This offers tremendous creative freedom, whether you want cinematic portraits, wide landscapes, or macro shots. You can even adapt legacy lenses for fun.

The FH2, on the other hand, has a fixed 28-112 mm F3.1-6.5 zoom lens with no option to change glass. It offers modest reach and optical image stabilization, plus a macro focus distance down to 5 cm. A great all-in-one for cheapskates who dislike fussing with lenses, but don’t expect stellar sharpness or very wide apertures.

Evaluating Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera boasts official weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproofing. The Panasonic FH2 feels reasonably robust for its class but is clearly a consumer compact. The NX30’s DSLR-style chassis offers better durability for semi-professional use but don’t take it out in a downpour without extra care.

Still Photography Performance Across Genres

Portrait Photography

The NX30 is better suited to portraits because of its larger sensor delivering more natural skin tones and shallower depth of field for pronounced background blur (bokeh). Its continuous and face/eye AF modes help tack sharp portraits - crucial for pro headshots and creative lighting setups.

The FH2’s fixed lens and small sensor limit bokeh control and noise handling. Face detection AF is helpful indoors but expect flatter colors and less resolution detail.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize high resolution, wide dynamic range, and weather resistance. The NX30’s 20 MP sensor and solid DR deliver fine detail and tonal gradations, making it a reliable companion for sunrise vistas and moody clouds.

The FH2’s limited 14 MP CCD struggles here; images are noisier in shadows and fine detail softens at base ISO’s sharpness limit. Its compactness is a plus for light travel, but results favor the NX30 by a mile for serious nature work.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

Fast and accurate AF, high burst rates, and telephoto lenses make the difference. The FH2 cannot compete, with its slow AF and modest 4x optical zoom. By contrast, the NX30’s 9 fps burst and hybrid AF support tracking fast movers, paired with long telephotos for bird or athlete shots.

Street Photography

Here the FH2 shines in portability and discretion - it’s quiet, pocketable, and unobtrusive. The NX30, a bit bulky and eye-catching, can draw stares but offers versatility and image quality advantages.

Macro Photography

Both cameras lack special macro features like focus stacking or extreme magnification. The FH2’s macro distance (5 cm) is serviceable for casual close-ups but lacks fine precision. The NX30’s lenses offer superior focusing precision and allow specialized macro lenses, winning this category.

Night and Astrophotography

The NX30’s wide ISO range (up to 25600) and CMOS sensor excel in low-light and long exposures. The FH2 maxes out at ISO 6400 but suffers heavy noise - adequate for basic holiday snaps, but no competition here.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic FH2 records 720p HD video at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format - a bit dated, with limited detail and large file sizes. No microphone input and no advanced video modes.

The NX30 shoots Full HD 1080p at up to 60 fps with MPEG-4/H.264 encoding, plus a mic input for audio enhancements. No 4K, but still appreciably better for videographers.

Battery Life and Storage

The Panasonic FH2’s 270-shot battery life is acceptable for compacts but may require frequent charging on outings. It uses standard battery packs without the ability to swap in a quick freshie.

The NX30 offers 360 shots per charge, and while still modest compared to DSLRs, it’s more generous. Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot.

Connectivity and Extras

FH2 lacks wireless or GPS features; you’ll need to transfer photos via USB 2.0 cable only - archaic but functional for its era.

NX30 benefits from built-in wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi and NFC), allowing quick sharing and remote operation via smartphone apps - a feature savvy users will appreciate.

Price-to-Performance Perspective

At $149, the Panasonic FH2 is a bargain for those who want a pocket-friendly, fuss-free snapper. But that value is reflected in image quality and feature limitations.

The Samsung NX30 targets enthusiasts or semi-pros looking for a step-up mirrorless system on a moderate budget (~$700). It offers excellent image quality, expanded creative tools, better ergonomics, and video features, justifying the price gap.

Panasonic FH2 front Panasonic FH2 screen back Samsung NX30 front Samsung NX30 screen back

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Breaking It Down by Photography Interests

• Casual & Travel Photography: Panasonic FH2 excels if you want ultra-light, basic captures without fuss or showroom flashes.
• Portrait & Studio: Samsung NX30’s sensor, lens options, and AF deliver professional-grade skin tones and sharpness.
• Landscape & Nature: NX30’s dynamic range and resolution dominate for large prints and color-rich scenes.
• Sports & Wildlife: NX30’s AF speed and burst rate are essential for fast subjects - FH2 falls short.
• Street Photography: FH2’s discreet size suits candid shots but NX30 rewards with image quality if you don’t mind being noticed.
• Video & Vlogging: NX30 clearly provides more versatility and quality.

How I Tested Them (Brief Peek Behind the Scenes)

For this comparison, I undertook controlled shooting scenarios:

• Daylight urban and natural scenes for detail and color assessment
• Low-light portraits with tungsten and LED lighting for skin tone and noise evaluation
• Sports sequences with moving subjects to test AF tracking and burst shooting
• Video recording tests in light indoor and outdoor environments
• Ergonomic and UI evaluations during extended shooting sessions

I also reviewed images on calibrated monitors, matched histograms for exposure evaluation, and ran practical battery drain checks.

Final Verdict: Who Should Consider Which?

If you’re a budget-conscious photographer or need a light, no-fuss point-and-shoot, the Panasonic Lumix FH2 is a solid starter or backup, especially for casual snapshots and travel without extra gear. It’s a “grab and go” camera for cheapskates who want simple image results and aren’t chasing pro quality.

However, if image quality, creative flexibility, and improved ergonomics matter - and your budget can stretch - the Samsung NX30 is a compelling choice. It offers a high-end APS-C sensor, access to a vast lens lineup, advanced autofocus, and better video features. Despite being discontinued now (keep an eye on used markets), it remains a testament to Samsung’s mirrorless ambitions, suited for enthusiasts who want to push their photography forward.

Closing Thoughts

In the index of “cameras I’ve handled,” the Panasonic FH2 and Samsung NX30 have no direct rivalry due to their market niches. Yet, comparing them illuminates how sensor size, system design, and price impact everything from usability to final image quality.

Choose the FH2 if you prize compactness and simplicity on a slim wallet. Pick the NX30 for serious image-making and expandable creativity, accepting the tradeoffs of size, weight, and cost.

Both have their place - your choice depends on your photography ambitions and how deep your pockets go.

If you want recommendations for newer models along these lines or help finding lenses and accessories, drop me a line. Happy shooting!

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• Panasonic FH2 front Panasonic FH2 screen back Samsung NX30 front Samsung NX30 screen back