Panasonic FH22 vs Sony RX100 V: An Expert Hands-On Comparison for Modern Photographers

As someone who has tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years, spanning budgets, sensor sizes, and form factors, I’m often asked how to choose between vastly different models. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V couldn't be more contrasting, yet comparing them gives us valuable insights into compact camera design evolution across a six-year gap.

One is a modest, budget-minded small sensor compact from early 2010, while the other is a more recent, high-end large sensor compact loaded with pro-grade features. Our goal here is to deeply analyze their strengths, weaknesses, and real-world performance across photography genres, and conclude with recommendations tailored to specific user needs.

Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts with an expert eye.

Pocketability and Handling: Size and Ergonomics Tell a Story

Both cameras aim for portability but embody entirely different design philosophies and priorities.

The Panasonic FH22, with dimensions of 100 x 57 x 27 mm and a weight of just 170 grams, is featherlight and can disappear in the smallest pocket. Designed as an easy grab-and-go travel companion, it does its job without fuss. Its modest size makes it great for casual use, but that comes with compromises in grip and handling stability - especially in low light or when using longer zoom.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 V measures 102 x 58 x 41 mm and weighs almost twice as much at 299 g, yet it feels surprisingly ergonomic given its compact status. Its tactile controls, slightly larger body, and strategic button placement allow for more confident handling during extended shooting. The extra heft and grip accommodation significantly improve stability, which is vital for telephoto reach and video stabilization.

The top view comparison reveals that the RX100 V’s control layout caters to speed and precision - crucial for demanding genres like sports or wildlife - while the Panasonic’s more austere approach emphasizes simplicity over customization.

Verdict: If ultra-portability and pocket fit are priorities, the FH22 shines. For photographers who demand a compact camera with refined ergonomics and control flexibility, the RX100 V justifies its slightly larger footprint.

Sensor and Image Quality: A Journey From 2010 to 2016 and Beyond

This contrast lies at the heart of why these cameras are so different in their photography applications.

The Panasonic FH22 uses a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm), producing 14 megapixels. While respectable at the time, this sensor size severely limits image quality in terms of noise performance, dynamic range, and depth of field control. The CCD technology favors color rendition but often struggles in low light. Maximum native ISO tops out at 6400, but usable quality generally stays well below ISO 800.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 V boasts a 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm), dramatically larger in physical size - over four times the sensor surface area. This translates directly into higher resolving power with 20 megapixels and far better signal-to-noise characteristics. The RX100 V’s BSI architecture improves light gathering efficiency, enabling cleaner images at high ISO - up to 12800 natively and boosted to 25600.

Dynamic range is a particularly critical metric for landscape and portrait shooters. Sony’s sensor achieves a whopping 12.4 stops at base ISO compared to the Panasonic’s untested but characteristically limited range on such a small CCD sensor.

Real-world takeaway: The RX100 V delivers crisp, detailed images with excellent tonal gradation and shadows retention - while the FH22’s files can feel flat, especially in challenging lighting.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Seeing Your Shot Matters

On the rear design, screen technology and viewfinders influence composition accuracy and handling comfort.

Panasonic FH22 features a 3-inch fixed LCD with only 230,000 dots. It offers touchscreen capabilities but the resolution severely hampers critical focusing and image review accuracy under harsh lighting.

Sony’s RX100 V, meanwhile, has a 3-inch tilting LCD panel with over 1.2 million dots, delivering much sharper previews and framing flexibility. Though it lacks touchscreen input, menus and navigation remain intuitive with dedicated controls.

Crucially, the RX100 V sports a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) at 2.36 million dots and 100% coverage, allowing precise framing in bright daylight or when stealth is required. The Panasonic offers no EVF, relying entirely on the LCD.

If you shoot outdoors or need accurate framing under varying light - especially for action or street photography - the RX100’s EVF is a game-changer.

Autofocus: From Point-and-Shoot to Pro-Level Tracking

Autofocus technology marks a leap forward between these cameras.

The Panasonic FH22 relies solely on contrast-detection with just 9 focus points and no face or eye detection. It supports single AF mode only, making it slow in tracking moving subjects or maintaining focus during burst shooting. This limits usability for sports, wildlife, or any scenario demanding speed and accuracy.

Sony’s RX100 V includes 315 phase-detection autofocus points paired with contrast detection in a hybrid system. It supports continuous AF tracking, face detection, and selective AF modes that significantly improve speed and reliability for moving subjects. This is especially important for wildlife, sports, and street photographers aiming to capture fleeting moments sharply.

Measured in the field, the RX100 V nails focus acquisition nearly instantly, even in low light and fast-moving scenarios, whereas the FH22 can hunt unpredictably and deliver missed shots.

Lens Quality and Zoom Versatility: Reach Versus Aperture

The FH22 offers an 8x zoom from 28-224 mm equivalent with an f/3.3–5.9 aperture range, typical of compact superzoom cameras. It can get you close to subjects without needing to move but can struggle to deliver sharpness wide open - especially toward the telephoto end. The lens also supports a 5 cm macro range, which is handy for casual close-ups.

The Sony RX100 V sports a shorter 24-70 mm equivalent zoom with a faster aperture of f/1.8-2.8. This lens excels in sharpness, bokeh quality, and low-light capability thanks to the wide maximum aperture. While the zoom range is less versatile than the Panasonic’s superzoom reach, the RX100 V prioritizes optical quality over zoom extension.

This has a profound impact on portrait and low-light photography. The RX100’s bright lens enables shallow depth of field and cleaner images at night or indoor events, whereas the FH22’s narrower apertures restrict creative control, especially for bokeh and subject-background separation.

Versatility Across Photography Genres: Who Does What Best?

Now let's evaluate how each camera performs in various key photography disciplines.

Portraits

Portrait photographers prize skin tone accuracy, smooth bokeh, and sharp eye detection. Here, the RX100 V is overwhelmingly superior. Its large sensor, good dynamic range, face detection autofocus, and fast lens yield beautiful, natural skin tones and creamy backgrounds, even in relatively cramped or dim environments.

The FH22’s small sensor and slower lens make it challenging to achieve anything beyond basic snapshots. It lacks face or eye detection, has limited depth of field control, and the built-in JPEG processing tends to flatten color gradations.

Landscape

For landscapes demanding high detail and wide dynamic range, sensor size and lens quality again dominate. The RX100 V’s larger sensor and superior image quality unlock spectacular imagery with richness, tonality, and detail retention in shadows and highlights.

The Panasonic FH22, despite offering an extended zoom, cannot compete on resolution or dynamic range and has no weather sealing. Its use is limited to casual daytime scenes in benign conditions.

Wildlife

Wildlife calls for fast autofocus, good reach, high burst rates, and accurate tracking.

The FH22’s 8x zoom lens covers decent focal lengths but falls short on focus speed and accuracy. Burst shooting tops out at 5 fps, but only single AF mode is supported, which leads to blurred frames if subjects move unpredictably.

The Sony RX100 V punches well above its size with 24 fps burst shooting, sophisticated hybrid autofocus, and excellent tracking capabilities. The shorter zoom is a limitation in reach but compensated by image quality and speed.

Sports

Sports photography shares many traits with wildlife in demands for responsiveness and reliability under challenging lighting. The RX100 V is far better suited thanks to faster shutter speeds (up to 1/32000 s electronic shutter), burst frame rate, and AF tracking.

The FH22’s 1/1600 s maximum shutter speed caps potential for freezing fast action - even more keenly felt indoors or at dusk.

Street Photography

Here, discretion, portability, and low-light competence matter most.

The FH22’s lightweight frame wins on stealth and simple point-and-shoot usage, but image quality and autofocus limit creative control and impact.

The RX100 V’s ability to produce outstanding images quickly, aided by EVF framing and silent electronic shutter, makes it much more capable for serious street shooters, though it demands a slightly larger carry.

Macro

Both cameras focus down to around 5 cm. The Panasonic’s optical image stabilization aids handheld macro shots, but the RX100 V’s superior sensor and lens sharpness give it a pronounced edge in detail and color fidelity.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO performance and exposure controls are critical. The RX100 V’s sensor excels at ISO 12800 with usable images, while the Panasonic struggles to go beyond ISO 800. Additionally, the RX100 allows for manual exposure modes essential for night photography; the FH22 lacks manual control altogether.

Video

The Panasonic only shoots 720p video at 30 fps, stored in Motion JPEG format - a dated codec that severely compresses footage. No microphone input or advanced stabilization limits video quality and utility.

The Sony RX100 V supports 4K UHD recording at 30 fps with the efficient XAVC S codec, optical image stabilization, and delivers much better video fundamentals, albeit without mic or headphone ports.

Travel Photography

For travel, battery life, size, weight, and versatility define desirability.

The Panasonic offers a pocketable plan B camera you can forget about, with low cost and simplicity but limited image quality.

The RX100 V, while larger and pricier, is more versatile and powerful, able to handle nearly any travel scenario photo- or video-wise.

Professional Use

Neither camera is fully ruggedized or designed as a professional mainstay, but the RX100 V provides raw support and better workflow integration, advanced exposure options, and superior file quality - making it potentially suitable for a seasoned pro’s compact backup.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither model offers environmental sealing or rugged protections. The Panasonic is typical budget plastic, the Sony is more robust with a quality metal alloy chassis, but both require care in adverse conditions.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Battery life on the FH22 isn’t well-documented but is generally adequate for casual use. The RX100 V provides approximately 220 shots per charge - average for a premium compact - and supports USB charging.

The Panasonic stores images on SD cards, while the Sony adds support for Memory Stick formats. Wireless connectivity is absent on the FH22; the RX100 V features built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for image transfer and remote control.

Price-to-Performance and Final Ratings

At retail, the Panasonic FH22 was priced around $200, representing entry-level simplicity. By contrast, the Sony RX100 V carries a $1000+ price tag, reflecting its high-end sensor, autofocus, and video capabilities.

If you prioritize image quality, autofocus, and photographic versatility across genres - especially portraits, wildlife, and low-light scenes - the RX100 V’s performance justifies its cost.

For casual point-and-shooters or travelers seeking absolute affordability and pocket convenience, the FH22 remains an adequate low-barrier option.

Sample Images: See the Difference in Action

Nothing beats looking at real-world output to appreciate the gap.

Panasonic FH22 front Panasonic FH22 screen back Sony RX100 V front Sony RX100 V screen back

The Panasonic FH22’s images are serviceable in daylight but lack crispness and tonal depth - the RX100 V produces significantly richer, sharper results with better color fidelity and dynamic range, even handheld and in low light.

Final Recommendations

• Buy the Panasonic Lumix FH22 if:

  • Your budget caps around $200 and you need a simple, light, easy-to-use camera.
  • You want an ultra-compact device primarily for casual snapshots with internet sharing.
  • You are okay sacrificing image quality, low-light performance, and manual controls.

• Buy the Sony RX100 V if:

  • You are a photography enthusiast or pro needing a true pocketable powerhouse.
  • You prioritize excellent image and video quality, sophisticated autofocus, and manual controls.
  • You intend to shoot across multiple genres, including portraits, wildlife, sports, and low light.
  • You value an electronic viewfinder and strong ergonomics in a compact form.

Closing Thoughts

Comparing the Panasonic Lumix FH22 and the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V is a lesson in how far compact camera technology has advanced in six years. The FH22 embodies the simple point-and-shoot ethos of its era - easy but limited - whereas the RX100 V pushes boundaries with a large sensor and professional-grade performance packed into a small package.

Having tested both thoroughly, my view is that the FH22 is a fine entry-level device for casual shooters, but anyone serious about image quality, versatility, and control will find a more trustworthy companion in the RX100 V. This dog is definitely a very good boy - and a grown-up compact camera powerhouse.

Happy shooting!