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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Key Specs

Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic FH20 and Sony QX1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Lens-style by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the FH20 (14MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the FH20 (1/2.3") and QX1 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The FH20 was announced 5 years prior to the QX1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FH20 matches up against the QX1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony QX1

 FH20 QX1 
Display sizing2.7""Larger display (+2.7")
Display resolution230k0kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Panasonic FH20

 QX1 FH20 
LaunchedSeptember 2014January 2010More recent by 56 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony QX1

 FH20 QX1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH20 enjoys outer dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Sony QX1 has dimensions of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH20 and Sony QX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the FH20 versus the QX1.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the FH20 and QX1 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FH20 and QX1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FH20 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony QX1 will give extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older FH20 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography advice
Sony QX1 Portrait photography advice
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Street photography highlights
Sony QX1 Street photography highlights
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
69
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH20
Sports photography with Sony QX1
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
slow fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
56
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (440 per charge)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography advice
Sony QX1 Travel photography advice
64
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
good battery pack (440 shots)
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (216 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography details
Sony QX1 Landscape photography details
37
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (440 CIPA)
tiny screen ( inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging info
Sony QX1 Vlogging info
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
32
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic port
heavier than others (216g)
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Sony QX1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Sony Alpha QX1
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Released 2010-01-06 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch -
Screen resolution 230k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178g (0.39 lbs) 216g (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 440 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $179 $500