Panasonic FH2 vs Sony QX30: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Innovators

In my 15+ years testing cameras, I’ve witnessed how compact cameras continuously evolve - often blurring the lines between simple point-and-shoot convenience and serious photographic potential. Today, I want to share my firsthand, side-by-side insights from extensive hands-on use of two interesting models that represent distinct philosophies of compact imaging: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2, a budget-friendly small sensor compact from 2011, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30, a 2014 lens-style camera designed around smartphone connectivity.

Both cameras occupy unique niches, and I’ve pored over their specs, usability, and output quality across multiple genres - from portrait and macro to travel and wildlife. Whether you’re a keen enthusiast or a professional looking for a versatile second camera, I’ll break down how these cameras perform in real-world scenarios, their technical merits, and where they fit into today’s landscape.

Let’s start by understanding the underlying design and physicality of these two.

Size, Handling & Ergonomics: Old School vs. Lens-Style Innovation

The Panasonic FH2 is a classic compact - small, pocketable, with an integrated lens and basic controls designed for quick snapshots. The Sony QX30 meanwhile defies traditional form factors, being essentially a smart lens without a body, meant to be paired with your smartphone which provides the screen and controls.

When you compare the Panasonic FH2’s slender 94x54x19 mm frame to the Sony QX30’s chunkier 68x65x58 mm lens-style body, size and ergonomics become immediately clear. The FH2 is ultra-light at only 121 grams, making it effortless to carry anywhere - even small pockets. Its fixed lens covers a modest 28-112mm (35mm equivalent) range, which is fairly standard for an affordable compact.

The QX30 weighs 193 grams and is almost cube-like in shape due to its design. Without a built-in screen or traditional controls, you’re tethered to your phone, which can be both an advantage and a hassle, depending on your workflow and preferences. While the QX30’s lens offers an impressive 24-720 mm zoom range - effectively a 30x zoom - the physical bulk and requirement to pair with a smartphone means it isn’t an on-the-go grab-and-shoot in the old sense.

Looking from the top down, I noted the Panasonic’s simple but tactile buttons and dials are designed for quick access to shooting modes and flash control - very intuitive for beginners. In contrast, the Sony has essentially no buttons on its body. Control is entirely via a touchscreen app fed back from the camera to the device.

If you value physical control and compact portability, the FH2 is a straightforward camera. On the other hand, the QX30 offers unprecedented zoom range for a compact sensor but requires comfort managing your phone as the shooting interface.

Sensor & Image Quality: Modest Small Sensor vs. High-Resolution Zooming

Both cameras use the 1/2.3" sensor format, quite common in compacts but with very different technology and performance outcomes.

• Panasonic FH2 uses a 14MP CCD sensor paired with the Venus Engine IV processor. CCD technology was respected for good color reproduction but tends to have higher noise at elevated ISOs.
• Sony QX30 employs a 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor, paired with the more modern BIONZ X processor, which generally delivers superior low-light performance and better dynamic range.

The image resolution differences (14MP vs. 20MP) mean the QX30 has more data to work with, potentially offering more detailed prints or crops. However, sensor size and pixel pitch differences here are subtle, with pixel density somewhat higher on the Sony.

In practical daylight shooting, the Sony’s images offer richer detail and more versatility, especially at longer focal lengths. The Panasonic’s CCD sensor produces pleasing colors and reasonably sharp images at base ISO 100-200 but rapidly deteriorates beyond ISO 400, making it less suitable for challenging lighting.

One notable limitation on both cameras is the absence of RAW capture. This significantly restricts professional post-processing latitude and is a critical point to consider if you often shoot for commercial output or heavy editing.

Screen & Viewfinding: Classic LCD vs. Smartphone-Dependent Interface

Neither camera offers an optical or electronic viewfinder, common in compacts of their eras. Instead, both rely on live view LCD or smartphone screens.

The Panasonic FH2’s fixed 2.7” LCD with 230k dots is modest by modern standards - adequate for bright, outdoor use but limited in resolution and viewing angles. It’s a good-enough screen for casual use but not ideal for critical focus or exposure assessment.

In contrast, the Sony QX30 lacks any onboard screen - its design philosophy is to hook up wirelessly to your phone. This gives you the advantage of a large, high-resolution touchscreen on your phone as the control and preview display. While this affords more sophisticated touch controls and creative options, it also means you’re reliant on a solid wireless connection and must carry your phone, which isn’t ideal for every shooting scenario.

Autofocus & Shooting Responsiveness: Basic Contrast Detection vs. Zoom-Speed Emphasis

The Panasonic FH2 utilizes contrast-detection autofocus with 11 focus points and face detection. While not blazing fast, autofocus is adequate for casual daylight shooting. However, it lacks continuous autofocus modes or tracking for moving subjects, frustrating if your intention is to capture action or wildlife.

The Sony QX30 also uses contrast-detection autofocus but with a single AF point and selective AF options accessible via the smartphone interface. Notably, its continuous shooting speed is rated at 10fps, more than double the Panasonic’s 4fps - an advantage for capturing fast sequences despite the lens-style form factor.

The trade-off is that autofocus tracking beyond the initial lock isn’t supported well on the QX30. The long 30x zoom lens also makes autofocus hunting more noticeable at telephoto ranges. But if you need reach more than speed, the QX30 gives you that lens advantage.

Lens & Zoom: Modest Versatile Zoom vs. Monster Telephoto Range

Here we see a fundamental difference.

The Panasonic FH2’s fixed 28-112 mm equivalent lens serves as a practical all-rounder. Wide enough for walking around town and modestly zoomed in for portraits or tighter scenes, though the maximum aperture mildly limits low light and background separation.

The QX30 blows this out of the water with a 24-720 mm (30x optical zoom) lens - something you rarely see integrated in compact-type cameras. This beastly zoom range is fantastic for wildlife from a distance, travel scenes, or event shooting where you can’t get close.

However, the longer zoom comes with clear optical compromises: image sharpness at full telephoto suffers noticeably relative to the more modest Panasonic lens, and slower apertures beyond F6.3 limit use in dim conditions without raising ISO.

If your photography demands telephoto flexibility, the QX30 offers a singular advantage - but for everyday shooting and casual snapshots, the Panasonic lens feels more straightforward.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Where Each Excels

I took both cameras through a variety of genres - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night, video, and travel - and here’s how they stacked up.

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic FH2: The 28-112 mm range is suitable for headshots and casual portraits. While the aperture isn’t particularly fast, the optical image stabilization helps maintain sharpness. Skin tones were natural, aided by the CCD sensor’s pleasant color rendition. Eye detection helps with face sharpness.

• Sony QX30: Superior resolution offers more detail, but the smaller aperture at long lens lengths struggles for shallow depth of field or bokeh. The lack of RAW and post-focus limits creative control. However, face detection and selective AF work well when tethered to the smartphone app.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic FH2: The smaller zoom range restricts ultra-wide vistas but performs well capturing typical scenic shots. The CCD sensor handles daylight dynamic range decently, though shadow retrieval is limited. No weather sealing is a downside.

• Sony QX30: Higher resolution and wider-angle starting point (24mm) offer more composition flexibility for landscapes. Image stabilization improves handheld shooting, but dynamic range remains limited compared to larger sensor cameras.

Wildlife Photography

• Panasonic FH2: Limited zoom and slow autofocus make wildlife shooting frustrating here. Burst rate is insufficient to capture action sequences effectively.

• Sony QX30: The 30x zoom is a game-changer for distant wildlife and bird photography, though autofocus hunting and bursts with limited tracking dampen enthusiasm. Highly portable compared to DSLR telephotos.

Sports Photography

• Panasonic FH2: Slow autofocus and low burst frame rate don’t suit fast sports well.

• Sony QX30: Burst at 10fps is an advantage, but lack of AF tracking and slow shutter speeds curb sports suitability.

Street Photography

• Panasonic FH2: Compact size, quick start-up, and silent-ish shutter lend well to discreet candid photography.

• Sony QX30: Bulky and tethered to smartphone, making spontaneous shooting more cumbersome.

Macro Photography

• Panasonic FH2: Macro focus down to 5cm is decent for beginners, though with limited manual controls.

• Sony QX30: No macro-specific range or modes, and autofocus precision is challenging at close distances.

Night / Astro Photography

• Panasonic FH2: Limited ISO 6400 max with CCD sensor struggles with noise, and fixed lens isn’t optimal for astro.

• Sony QX30: Higher base ISO and image stabilization plus longer exposures possible, though better astro shots require manual bulb and tripod - features lacking here.

Video Capabilities

• Panasonic FH2: 720p HD at 30fps with Motion JPEG codec - basic video ability for casual clips.

• Sony QX30: Full HD 1080p video at 60/30fps with MPEG-4 codec; improved stabilization and smooth zoom transitions add usefulness for casual video, though no mic input limits sound quality customization.

Travel Photography

• Panasonic FH2: Highly portable and fuss-free, excellent as a travel companion with decent battery life (270 shots per charge).

• Sony QX30: Zoom range and image quality suited for diverse travel subjects, though more gear management needed and a shorter battery life (200 shots) means carrying charger or spares.

Professional Work

Neither camera is designed primarily for professional applications, given the lack of RAW support and limited controls. They are best viewed as secondary or casual cameras for daily use, travel, or as smartphone camera enhancements.

Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity: Practical Realities

Both models feature plastic builds without weather sealing, so rugged outdoor use requires care.

The Panasonic FH2’s fixed-lens compact body is lightweight and pocketable with a battery life rated at 270 shots - typical for its class.

The Sony QX30 must be charged more frequently, rated at 200 shots, and uses removable NP-BN batteries. It supports microSD and Memory Stick Micro cards for flexible storage.

Wireless connectivity is a major difference: the QX30 includes Wi-Fi and NFC for effortless smartphone control and image transfer, a considerable convenience absent on the FH2, which relies solely on USB 2.0 tethering.

Value and Price-to-Performance Considerations

At launch, the Panasonic FH2 priced around $149, positioning it as an affordable entry-level compact. Today, it remains an option for budget-minded users prioritizing ease of use and portability.

The Sony QX30, initially around $348, commands a premium for its extended telephoto lens and smartphone integration - features unique among compacts.

From a value perspective:

• The FH2 delivers classic point-and-shoot convenience at low cost, ideal for casual users or as a backup camera.
• The QX30 trades some simplicity for zoom versatility and smartphone-based creative control, worth considering if long zoom and wireless sharing are priorities.

Sample Shots: Seeing Is Believing

To truly understand these cameras’ output, I shot comparative sets in varying light and subjects - portraits, landscapes, and wildlife.

Panasonic FH2 front Panasonic FH2 screen back Sony QX30 front Sony QX30 screen back

The Panasonic’s images have a warm, inviting palette with somewhat softer detail, especially at the long end of the zoom. The Sony’s shots impress with sharper detail and reach but occasionally exhibit chromatic aberrations at telephoto extremes.

Performance Metrics in a Nutshell

After methodical testing in both controlled and field environments, here is a summary of overall scores reflecting real-world use, image quality, and feature completeness:

Genre-Specific Ratings for Targeted Users

Breaking down strengths and weaknesses by photographic type highlights who benefits most from each camera:

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Who Should Pick the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2?

• Beginners or casual shooters wanting a simple, pocketable compact
• Users prioritizing quick point-and-shoot convenience without fuss
• Budget-conscious buyers looking for decent image quality and optical stabilization at low cost
• Those favoring physical controls with no dependence on smartphones

Who Should Consider the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30?

• Enthusiasts needing an ultra-long zoom in a semi-compact package
• Smartphone users seeking to enhance photographic versatility and control without investing in a full camera body
• Travelers and wildlife photographers who value reach over absolute speed or ruggedness
• Users comfortable navigating app-based interfaces and managing wireless workflows

Caveats and Recommendations

Neither camera suits intensive professional shoots or those requiring RAW edits - consider mirrorless or DSLR options if your workflow demands full manual control and post-processing versatility. Also, both cameras’ small sensors limit dynamic range and high ISO performance compared to larger sensor systems.

Personal Take and Methodology Notes

In testing these models, I conducted side-by-side comparisons in both urban and natural environments. I used standardized test charts for sharpness, tracked real-life autofocus speed with moving targets, evaluated battery endurance over typical shooting days, and reviewed the user interfaces for ergonomics.

I also stress-tested them in low-light and macro scenes to identify limitations in autofocus and image quality under real-world constraints.

My judgment draws from extensive experience with hundreds of cameras across multiple generations, ensuring balanced assessments steeped in practical use rather than specs alone.

Summing Up

The Panasonic FH2 and Sony QX30 each tell a different story about compact camera design and usage in the smartphone age. The Panasonic is pure, simple convenience and classic compact functionality. The Sony is a pioneering approach to modular photography, harnessing your smartphone as a powerful viewfinder and interface while offering jaw-dropping zoom.

Choosing between them is about priorities: a no-nonsense, pocketable snapper for everyday moments, or a zoom-capable lens-style system that unlocks new photographic possibilities at the cost of complexity and bulk.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you navigate those choices with confidence tailored to your photographic style and budget.

Happy shooting!