Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22 vs DMC-FX78: A Detailed Comparison for the Practical Photographer

As someone who has tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years, I find that compact cameras, especially the entry-level to mid-tier models, often get overlooked in favor of fancy mirrorless beasts or DSLRs. Yet, these models sometimes deliver surprisingly capable performance for specific needs - and that’s exactly why a thorough, real-world comparison between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22 and DMC-FX78 is worthwhile.

Both cameras come from Panasonic’s well-respected Lumix lineup, designed for those who want an easy-to-use compact solution with decent image quality. Announced a year apart (2010 for the FH22 and 2011 for the FX78), they are direct competitors in the small sensor compact camera category. Let’s dive into their nuances, comparing them across technical specs, handling, performance, and usability - all through the lens of practical photography.

Size, Build, and Ergonomics: Handling in Your Hand

When choosing a compact camera, how it feels to hold can be an unexpected deal-maker or breaker. The Panasonic FH22 and FX78 share similar physical dimensions and portability, but subtle differences matter.

On paper, the FH22 is slightly thicker (27mm vs 21mm) and heavier (170g vs 142g). Ergonomically, this gives the FH22 a bit more substance and grip comfort, though it’s still small enough to fit in a coat pocket. The FX78’s slimmer profile and lighter weight make it more pocket-friendly and discreet - a win for street photographers or travellers prioritizing minimal bulk.

Both cameras are made of plastic with no weather sealing features, so neither is particularly rugged. The FX78’s construction feels a touch more refined, likely due to its newer status and Venus Engine FHD processor integration, but neither will withstand heavy environmental abuse. If you tend to shoot outdoors frequently in uncertain conditions, factor in protective accessories or consider sturdier models.

Control Layout and User Interface: Ready to Shoot?

Compact cameras often suffer from cramped controls, trading tactile buttons for streamlined simplicity - sometimes to a fault. Here’s how these two compare.

The FH22 sports a very minimal control scheme: a power button, shutter release, mode dial, and playback keys. The absence of manual exposure modes means you rely on auto-centric shooting exclusively. The FX78 has a slightly more evolved layout, with a dedicated mode dial and more direct access buttons, reflecting its marginally more advanced feature set.

Neither camera offers manual lens control, aperture or shutter priority modes - no surprise here given their compact class. However, the FX78’s inclusion of multiple AF modes (including continuous AF and tracking) makes it somewhat more versatile for users looking to shoot moving subjects despite the simplified handling.

Both screens are fixed, but:

The FX78 has the upper hand with a larger 3.5-inch screen at 230K resolution, compared to 3 inches on the FH22. The FX78’s TFT LCD technology shows better viewing angles and brightness, conducive to framing in bright outdoor conditions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Let's get technical for a moment, focusing on the core image-making parts.

Both cameras employ a 1/2.3” CCD sensor, a common size for point-and-shoot compacts - but with important differences.

• Panasonic FH22: 14 Megapixels with a CCD sensor, native ISO 80 to 6400. No RAW support, uses a fixed anti-aliasing filter.
• Panasonic FX78: 12 Megapixels CCD sensor, same ISO range, also no RAW support, with an anti-aliasing filter.

While the FH22’s sensor offers a higher resolution, in practical terms, the FX78’s fewer megapixels are more pixel-efficient, especially when combined with the Venus Engine FHD processor. This tends to translate into slightly cleaner images at base ISO, less noise at higher ISOs, and better color rendition.

The lack of RAW support in either camera limits post-processing flexibility - a compromise that professionals or serious hobbyists may find frustrating. However, for everyday snapshotters and casual travelers, the JPEG quality straight out of the camera is acceptable.

The fixed lens in the FH22 offers a 28-224 mm equivalent focal range with an aperture range of f/3.3 to f/5.9. In contrast, the FX78 sports a 24-120 mm range but starts wider at f/2.5, beneficial in low light and for creating shallow depth of field.

The wider aperture at the short end means FX78 can generate marginally better bokeh and more natural subject separation in portrait scenarios, even though small sensors inherently limit that shallow depth of field effect.

Autofocus, Burst, and Responsiveness: Catching the Moment

A camera’s autofocus performance critically impacts image sharpness, especially for moving subjects. Both cameras rely exclusively on contrast detection autofocus, typical of compacts of their era.

• FH22 offers 9 focus points, but limited AF modes (single AF only).
• FX78 expands to 11 points, with face detection disabled but adds tracking autofocus and continuous AF.

While neither model competes with modern PDAF systems in speed or accuracy, in testing I found FX78’s AF tracking more reliable for small moving targets - think toddlers or pets. The FH22’s single AF can feel sluggish and prone to hunting in low light.

For burst modes, neither camera offers extensive continuous shooting. The FH22 can do 5 fps for a handful of frames, whereas the FX78 offers 4 fps - both enough for casual spurts but not sports or wildlife.

Flash and Low Light Performance: When the Sun Goes Down

Both models come with built-in flashes with similar ranges (around 5.6 to 5.8 meters). FH22 offers the usual flash modes with red-eye reduction and slow sync options; FX78 adds white balance bracketing, a plus for creative control in challenging lighting.

CCD sensors tend to struggle with high ISO noise, and in these cameras, 6400 ISO images are quite grainy, limiting practical use to around ISO 400 or 800 depending on lighting.

FX78’s wider aperture advantage helps slightly in darker environments, reducing dependency on flash indoors or in evening street conditions.

Video Capabilities: More than a Still Camera?

Video is a growing priority, and here the factor of generation gap emerges clearly.

The FX78 offers 1080p video at smooth 60fps, a significant leap over the FH22’s 720p cap. It also supports AVCHD, which preserves better video quality and compression. No external microphone inputs means audio quality is limited to built-ins, so neither will appeal to serious videographers.

For casual family videos, the FX78 is the clear winner, delivering better resolution and frame rates, making it a more versatile choice for multimedia users.

Lens Versatility and Macro Capability: Getting Closer to Your Subject

Both cameras employ fixed zoom lenses, but their focal length and aperture characteristics differ.

The FH22’s longer zoom range is handy for distant shots, wildlife, or street candids where you want a little extra reach without bulk. The FX78’s wider start focal length (24mm) is better for landscapes, group shots, or street scenes where a wider field of view is valuable.

Macro focusing at 5cm minimum distance enables close-up shots with good detail, though neither camera features focus stacking or bracketing capabilities.

For macro enthusiasts, both provide reasonable capabilities in a compact, but you won’t get the precision or stabilization features found in dedicated macro systems or advanced compacts.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Battery endurance is critical for any travel or all-day photography scenario.

• The FH22’s battery life is unspecified; judging by similar compacts from the era, expect around 150 shots on a charge.
• The FX78 specifies approximately 200 shots per charge, likely due to its newer battery pack and power management optimizations.

Neither camera uses AA batteries, placing reliance on proprietary rechargeable packs - just remember to carry a spare if you plan long shoots.

Storage on both cameras utilizes SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards and includes limited internal storage. Both only accept one card at a time, no dual slots for backups, which limits professional workflow but suits casual shooting.

Connectivity and Sharing: Getting Photos Off the Camera

In our socially connected world, camera wireless features are increasingly important, yet both these models lack Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC connectivity.

Both have USB 2.0 ports for image transfer and the FX78 adds an HDMI output, assisting easy playback on TVs. No GPS is available on either model, so location tagging is a non-starter.

For users who want immediate sharing to smartphones or cloud, these cameras fall short - you’ll need to rely on manual transfer.

Real World Photography: Putting Each to the Test

I took both cameras on varied shoots to see where their strengths naturally lie. Here’s a breakdown by photography discipline.

Portrait Photography

The FX78’s wider f/2.5 aperture coupled with continuous autofocus improves the likelihood of sharp faces with pleasing subject separation, even in mid-light environments.

Portraits shot with the FH22 tend toward flatter lighting and less background blur, given the narrower aperture and single AF mode.

Neither camera has face or eye-detection, so manual framing and focusing skill improve results.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, resolution counts but so does dynamic range.

Since sensor specs for dynamic range weren’t published for these models, I tested exposure latitude: both produce decent daylight images with punchy colors, but neither camera handles strong highlights or shadows gracefully.

FX78’s wider 24mm equivalent gives a more expansive field of view - great for sweeping vistas.

Wildlife Photography

With the FH22’s 8x zoom lens reaching 224mm eq, it theoretically offers more reach for wildlife at a distance.

However, the FX78’s superior continuous AF, better tracking, and video capabilities make it more useful for filming animals in motion.

Neither is suited for fast-action wildlife in challenging light; both struggle to lock focus quickly as their CCD sensors and contrast-detect AF systems are limited in speed.

Sports Photography

Sports photography is rarely a domain for compacts, but if you must...

The FH22’s 5 fps burst is a touch faster than FX78’s 4 fps, but FX78’s continuous AF tracking balances this out, yielding better success rate catching moving subjects.

Low light sports might challenge both severely due to sensor noise and slow max shutter (1/1600s and 1/1400s respectively).

Street Photography

For street shooters, discretion and speed count.

The FX78’s smaller size, lighter weight, and quieter operation edge out the FH22 for candid shooting.

Its faster lens at wide end means quicker exposures under urban shadows.

Macro Photography

Both excel equally with 5cm macro focus and optical stabilization.

Fine detail capture is acceptable but don’t expect razor-sharp professional macro images.

Night / Astro Photography

Given CCD sensor limitations, high ISO noise and long exposures are tricky.

Neither camera supports bulb mode or long exposure bracketing.

ISO above 800 introduces visible noise; only casual moon or star shots are possible.

Video

The FX78’s 1080p @ 60fps video smoothly covers casual video needs.

The FH22’s 720p max and Motion JPEG format feel outdated, with larger file sizes and less clarity.

Travel Photography

Compactness, battery life, and versatility count.

The FX78’s lighter build, longer battery life, wider lens, and Full HD video deliver more utility for travelers.

Professional Work

Neither camera has RAW support or advanced file format options, limiting post-processing.

No weather sealing or robust build standards mean caution in demanding conditions.

They best serve as casual companions rather than primary workhorses.

Summary of Performance Scores and Recommendations

Let’s look at an overall picture drawn from hands-on evaluation and consensus metrics from comprehensive testing:

And categorized by photography type:

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22 if:

• You want longer zoom reach (8x, 28-224mm) for casual wildlife or distant subjects.
• Portability is less of a concern, and you prefer a marginally bulkier grip.
• Video isn’t a priority.
• You seek a competent snapshot camera under $200 with basic features.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 if:

• You prioritize sharper images, better color, and more versatile shooting modes.
• Video in Full HD with 60fps is important to your multimedia needs.
• Compactness and street/travel readiness matter.
• You want improved autofocus performance and lighting versatility.
• You’re willing to invest a small premium for incremental yet meaningful upgrades.

Closing Thoughts: How to Decide?

While these two cameras share DNA, their differences reflect a progression in compact camera design from 2010 to 2011. The FH22 is a credible budget option with decent zoom and stabilization, but the FX78 proves itself more of an all-rounder, delivering better photos, smoother video, and practical versatility for enthusiasts on the move.

Neither will replace a mirrorless or DSLR for pros needing full control or high image fidelity. However, for casual photographers, street shooters, or travelers wanting a lightweight, competent compact camera, the FX78 is my recommendation.

If megapixels, sensor size, or adaptability rank high on your checklist, I would suggest considering newer compacts or entry-level interchangeable lens cameras. But as a pair, the FH22 and FX78 exemplify practical, no-nonsense small sensor compacts that serve well in their niche.

Thanks for joining me on this deep dive comparison. If you have specific shooting scenarios or questions about other models in this range, drop a comment or reach out - I’m always happy to help you find the right gear for your photographic journey.