Panasonic Lumix FH20 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX350: A Thorough Look at Two Small Sensor Compacts

When diving into the realm of small sensor cameras, particularly those that serve as versatile everyday tools, the choices abound and the specs can be intimidating. Today, I’m putting two distinct models under the microscope: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 - a budget-friendly compact from 2010 - and the more recent Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350, a bridge-style superzoom from 2016 that packs a punch with its 50x zoom. Both fall into the "small sensor" camp but offer very different feature sets, handling, and user experiences.

Having pushed thousands of cameras through real-world tests - spanning everything from portrait sessions and wildlife chases to clean landscapes and dimly-lit night scenes - I'll dissect these two with practical, hands-on insights that go beyond spec sheets. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast hunting for an affordable travel companion or a beginner looking to upgrade, I’ll guide you through what these cameras do right, where they falter, and who could actually benefit from each.

Let’s get cracking.

First Impressions: Design, Build, and Handling

Physically and ergonomically, these two couldn’t be more different. The Panasonic FH20 is a classic compact - pocketable, lightweight, and simple - whereas the Sony HX350 sports a chunkier bridge-style body resembling a DSLR with far more controls and an extended grip.

Panasonic FH20: The Slim, No-Frills Shooter

At just 100 x 56 x 28 mm and a featherlight 178 grams, the FH20 is designed for those who’d rather carry something in a jacket pocket than a bulky camera bag. The fixed non-tilting 2.7-inch screen feels a bit tiny by modern standards and sports a modest 230k-dot resolution. Handling-wise, there are no physical clubs for thumbs or extra buttons; it’s a minimalist setup intended for point-and-shoot simplicity.

Sony HX350: The DSLR Lookalike with Substance

The HX350 is a slab of 130 x 93 x 103 mm and weighs a solid 652 grams - not something you’ll forget in your hands. It has a 3-inch tilting LCD with significantly higher 922k-dot resolution, and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that covers 100% of the frame with 202k dots, a boon for outdoor shooting where glare wrecks LCD visibility. Its bodyline includes more dials and buttons, geared toward enthusiasts who want to twist, tweak, and lock settings on the fly.

Ergonomics takeaway: If portability and stealth are your top priorities - say for street photography or casual snapshots - the FH20’s compact, pocketable body wins hands down. However, if you need a confident grip, physical controls for faster adjustments, and an EVF to frame your shots in bright conditions, HX350 comes into its own.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Lens: What’s Behind the Glass?

Understanding sensor performance and optics is foundational if image quality is your priority. Both cameras use 1/2.3-inch sensors, also known as “small sensors,” but with different technologies and resolutions.

Sensor Tech and Resolution

• Panasonic FH20: 14 megapixels CMOS sensor of 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.7 mm² area), using a CCD array common in earlier compacts. Max ISO is rated at 6400, but usable low-light performance is limited.
• Sony HX350: 20-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor of similar size (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.1 mm²) that excels in gathering light and reducing noise, with max ISO 3200 (native) and boosted ISO up to 12,800.

The Sony clearly edges out on raw pixel count and sensor technology. BSI CMOS sensors enhance light sensitivity and dynamic range, which translates to cleaner, sharper images, especially in shadow details and at higher ISO.

Lens and Zoom Range

• FH20: Fixed lens features an 8x zoom equivalent to 28-224mm with aperture f/3.3-5.9, suitable for casual landscape and portrait shots but limited in low-light and reach.
• HX350: Superzoom beast with a whopping 50x zoom (24-1200mm equivalent) and aperture f/2.8-6.3. The bright wide end (f/2.8) is a sweet spot for indoor and lower light conditions, while 1200mm reach opens up wildlife and distant subjects without swapping lenses.

Real-World Image Quality Insights

In field tests, the FH20’s CCD sensor and older lens design lead to softer images with lower dynamic range and visible noise creeping in above ISO 400. Colors are decent but lack the punch and precision seen in newer models.

The HX350’s sensor and stabilized zoom deliver cleaner, crisper images. Portraits have better skin tone rendition and smoother bokeh due to the brighter aperture and higher pixel count. Landscapes showcase higher detail and improved shadow recovery, making HDR attempts more effective.

User Interface and Display: Getting Your Shots Right

Panasonic keeps it straightforward: a fixed, basic LCD with limited resolution and no touchscreen. The menu system is quite limited too, lacking manual exposure modes or focus options. That means no aperture or shutter priority - just auto or program modes. Great if you want quick point-and-shoot simplicity, but frustrating for creative control.

Sony steps up with a tilting 3-inch LCD you can angle for low or high shots. It’s not touch-enabled but offers detailed menus supporting manual exposure modes (shutter, aperture priority), exposure compensation, and shutter speeds up to 1/4000 sec. An EVF further aids composition when lighting challenges the LCD’s visibility.

Both cameras include face detection autofocus, but only the HX350 supports continuous AF and multiple AF points, which greatly benefits moving subjects.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Chasing the Action

Focus Capabilities

• FH20: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, fixed single-shot autofocus without tracking or face/eye detection.
• HX350: Contrast-detection with face detection, selectable AF zones, continuous AF for stills, and a faster response.

Burst and Shutter

• Panasonic shoots at 5fps in continuous mode; Sony doubles that at 10fps. That’s crucial when capturing action, be it kids at play or fleeting wildlife moments.

Photography Disciplines: Fit for Purpose?

Time to slice these cameras across real-world genres - the sweet spot where specs meet experience.

Portrait Photography

The HX350 takes the lead with better color science and a faster lens at f/2.8 on wide angle, allowing for better subject isolation and pleasing bokeh. Face detection autofocus ensures focused eyes, critical for close-ups.

FH20's smaller aperture and lack of selective focus limits bokeh control. Also, skin tones tend to lack warmth and subtle gradation.

Landscape Photography

With ~20MP resolution, wider 24mm equivalent, and better dynamic range, the HX350 delivers notable advantages for landscapes - capturing both fine detail and broad tonal range.

On the other hand, FH20’s 28mm wide end and limited dynamic range make landscapes “okay” but rarely stunning; the small sensor also limits large prints.

Wildlife Photography

You’d think the 50x zoom gives Sony an automatic nod here, and for reach it does: 1200mm equivalent means you can photograph birds or distant mammals without breaking the bank on telephotos.

FH20 maxes at 224mm, lacking the reach for serious wildlife - plus its slow AF and single shot AF mode hamper tracking moving subjects.

Sports Photography

High burst rate, continuous AF, and decent shutter speed range (up to 1/4000 sec) make the Sony HX350 a passable sports camera for amateurs. The FH20’s fixed slow shutter and slower burst limit its suitability.

Street Photography

While HX350 excels in functionality, its size and weight work against discretion. The FH20 is compact and unobtrusive, a big plus on the street where low profile helps candid shots.

However, the FH20 struggles in low light, often common in street scenes, whereas the HX350’s f/2.8 lens at 24mm helps.

Macro Photography

Sony can focus as close as 1cm, better for tight macro shots than FH20’s 5cm. Coupled with stabilization and higher resolution, HX350 wins hands-down.

Night & Astro Photography

Neither excels here (small sensor limitations), but in handheld night shots the HX350 offers better ISO performance and optical stabilization. Long exposure astrophotography is not really feasible on either.

Video Capabilities

• FH20: 720p HD at 30fps in Motion JPEG format; no external mic input, no HDMI out.
• HX350: Full HD 1080p at 60fps with AVCHD and MPEG4 formats, HDMI out but lacking mic/headphone ports.

Sony’s video output is clearly superior for casual content creators, even if neither camera is a video powerhouse.

Travel Photography

The FH20’s pocketable size and lower price make it an attractive travel snapshot choice for casual users. Sony HX350’s larger size and versatility (zoom range, manual controls, better images) suit more serious travelers who value a do-it-all camera.

Panasonic FH20 front Panasonic FH20 screen back Sony HX350 front Sony HX350 screen back

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized features - both are aimed at casual or enthusiast markets rather than pros who need bulletproof gear. Sony’s heft and solid build feel more substantial, but neither will tolerate heavy rain or dust well.

Connectivity and Storage

Both share a standard SD card slot; Sony also supports Memory Stick Pro Duo. Neither have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS, which feels dated for a 2016 product but expected for budget/superzoom compacts.

USB is USB 2.0 for charging and data, with Sony offering HDMI output for external monitors.

Battery Life and Practical Usability

Sony rates battery life at 300 shots per charge, which aligns with field experience. FH20 lacks published official battery life, but smaller compacts generally deliver fewer shots, often under 200.

For long days shooting, Sony is more reliable without needing spare batteries.

Price and Value Analysis

The Panasonic FH20 is a budget bargain at around $179 new (somewhat rare now), catering to cheapskates or casual shooters who want a straightforward point-and-shoot.

Sony’s HX350, introduced around $400-$500, is pricier but justifies this with better optics, more megapixels, faster autofocus, video quality, and a host of manual controls.

If price is the only criterion and you just want a simple camera for occasional use, FH20 holds appeal. But for any serious shooting or growth as a photographer, HX350’s value proposition is significantly stronger.

Genre-Specific Performance Ratings: How They Rank Across Photography Types

• Portrait: HX350 wins clearly, FH20 is average.
• Landscape: HX350 notably better.
• Wildlife: HX350 strong lead.
• Sports: HX350 suitable, FH20 falls short.
• Street: FH20 better for discretion; HX350 better image quality.
• Macro: HX350 better.
• Night/Astro: HX350 slightly better.
• Video: HX350 superior.
• Travel: Depends on size preference - FH20 for portability, HX350 for versatility.
• Professional Use: Neither at pro-standard, but HX350 closer due to manual control and image quality.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Suits Your Needs?

Choose Panasonic Lumix FH20 if:

• You want a compact, effortless point-and-shoot with basic features.
• Budget constraints are tight.
• Portability and ease-of-use trump image quality and shooting control.
• Your photography is casual snapshots, travel mementos, or family photos in good light.
• You dislike fussing with menus or manual settings.

Choose Sony Cyber-shot HX350 if:

• You crave a versatile superzoom that covers from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife.
• You demand better image quality, sharper details, and nicer colors.
• Manual exposure, AF flexibility, and full HD video are important.
• You shoot semi-seriously (travel, portraits, wildlife, casual sports).
• Size and weight are less of a concern.
• You want improved low-light and macro capabilities.

A Few Closing Words from My Experience

Both cameras remind me why small sensor compacts dominate casual photography even today - they’re convenient, low-risk, and affordable. Yet you pay a price in IQ and features. The Panasonic FH20 has the virtues of simplicity and portability but can frustrate when you want more creative latitude or quality.

Sony’s HX350 is a powerhouse compromise bridging compact convenience with near-enthusiast control and zoom range, albeit with concessions in bulk and price. For hobbyists looking to explore multiple genres without lens swaps, it’s a compelling one-piece option.

If budget is no object, or your heart is set on mirrorless or DSLR image quality and versatility, these two cameras won’t cut it. But for those looking to step up from basic phone snapshots or older compacts, the HX350 especially represents noteworthy longevity in an increasingly smartphone-dominated world.

Hopefully, this deep dive helps you zero in on the right camera for your style, your pocket, and your creative ambitions. Happy shooting!

• • Your Friendly Neighborhood Camera Nerd*