Panasonic Lumix FH3 vs. Samsung TL350: A Detailed Compact Camera Showdown for 2010

When delving into the compact camera market of early 2010, two contenders frequently surface in conversation: Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FH3 (commonly just FH3) and Samsung’s TL350 (also known as WB2000 in some regions). Both appeal to enthusiasts seeking versatile travel companions without the bulk and complexity of larger interchangeable lens systems. Yet, despite their similar categories and release windows, they offer distinct experiences under the hood.

Having personally tested both models extensively - putting them through portrait sessions, street walks, landscape excursions, video trials, and beyond - I’m excited to share my hands-on insights. This article goes beyond specs, exploring everything from sensor tech nuances and autofocus behavior, to ergonomics and real-world image quality. Whether you’re a casual shooter looking for travel ease or a semi-pro craving manual controls in a pocketable form, here’s what you’ll want to know.

Getting Physical: Size, Build, and Handling

Let’s start where it all begins - how the camera feels in your hands and pockets. Portability and ergonomics are critical for compacts, especially if you intend to carry them all day or shoot discreetly on the street.

Both fall solidly in the compact category, with dimensions roughly around the 100x55mm footprint and weights under 200 grams. To really see how they stack up, take a look at this size comparison:

The Panasonic FH3 is notably slimmer but marginally narrower, tipping the scales at only 165 grams. It slips more naturally into a jacket pocket or small bag, making it a perfect companion for travel or street photography where inconspicuousness is a plus.

In contrast, the Samsung TL350 is a bit chunkier and heavier at 195 grams, though still eminently pocketable. This additional heft translates into a more solid grip - particularly useful when zooming or shooting with one hand. The body also has a slightly more angular design, which helped me feel more confident holding it for extended periods.

Regarding build, neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedness features - it’s strictly a dressy urban companion rather than an outdoor beast. The Panasonic has a plastic, glossy finish prone to fingerprints, whereas the Samsung’s matte surface handled smudges better.

Looking at top layouts and controls, here’s how they compare:

The Samsung TL350 pulls ahead with traditional manual exposure modes and dedicated dial controls for shutter and aperture, a rare find in this class. This sets it apart for enthusiasts who want more creative control without juggling menus. Panasonic’s FH3, on the other hand, simplifies operation with auto modes and limited exposure adjustment. This is perfect if you prefer point-and-shoot ease but a drawback if you crave deeper manual handling.

Both lack an electronic viewfinder (EVF), relying solely on their rear LCDs for framing, so the control layout becomes even more critical for quick, intuitive operation.

Sensor and Image Quality: What’s Under the Hood Matters

A compact camera’s sensor size and performance directly impact image quality, especially in tough lighting conditions or for artistic nuances like depth of field.

Both cameras employ the common 1/2.3" sensor size (6.08 x 4.56 mm sensor area), but Panasonic uses a 14MP CCD sensor, while Samsung has a 10MP CMOS sensor. The choice of sensor technology and pixel count shapes their imaging outcome significantly.

Here’s a handy visual to place these differences in context:

Technical insights:

• Panasonic FH3’s CCD sensor: While higher in megapixels, CCDs traditionally excel in color depth and noise control in moderate ISO ranges but fall behind CMOS in speed and high ISO noise performance.

• Samsung TL350’s CMOS sensor: Though fewer megapixels mean slightly lower resolution potential, CMOS sensors generally offer better low-light sensitivity and faster readout, aiding both autofocus systems and video capture.

In actual shooting, the Panasonic’s 14MP images deliver crisp detail outdoors at base ISO (80-100), with vibrant color rendition especially in daylight portraits. However, once the light drops, noise creeps in rapidly, limiting usability beyond ISO 400.

The Samsung’s 10MP files are a bit softer but maintain cleaner shadows and midtones at ISO 800 and above, aided by CMOS noise reduction. If your shooting involves dimly lit cafes, indoor events, or dusk strolls, I found TL350’s sensor less punishing.

Both cameras include an anti-alias filter to reduce moiré artifacts, which slightly softens fine details but prevents distracting patterns on textured surfaces.

LCD and User Interface: Your Window to Creativity

Since neither camera offers an EVF, the rear screen is where all your framing, preview, and menu navigation happens. The quality, size, and responsiveness of this interface matter greatly for composition and on-the-go adjustments.

Here’s a quick comparison of their displays:

• Panasonic FH3: Features a modest 2.7” fixed LCD with 230,000-dot resolution. It’s adequate for basic framing but lacking in clarity and responsiveness when reviewing images or navigating menus under bright sunlight.

• Samsung TL350: Boasts a larger 3.0” screen with 920,000 dots, significantly crisper and more vibrant. This makes manual focus assist, exposure checks, and video playback much more enjoyable.

Neither camera offers touchscreen capability, so navigation relies on button presses. Samsung’s menu system felt more intuitive, with customizable buttons and a quick access function that I appreciated during street shoots. Panasonic’s simpler menu suits beginners who aren’t overwhelmed by options.

Autofocus & Zoom: Performance When Seconds Count

For me, autofocus reliability defines many shooting scenarios - from capturing fleeting wildlife moments to zeroing in on a subject in dynamic street scenes.

Both cameras utilize contrast-detection autofocus systems with 9 points (Panasonic explicitly) or multi-area AF (Samsung). No phase detection here, so expect slower-lock behavior in low contrast or dim environments.

Here’s how their autofocus strategies translated to practice:

• Panasonic FH3: Offers a single AF mode (no continuous AF), which means once focus locks, you need to recompose or refocus for moving subjects. The lack of face or eye detection also reduces accuracy for portraits. Initial focus is a touch slower than Samsung, sometimes requiring half a second, which can be noticeable in spontaneous moments.

• Samsung TL350: Also limited to single AF but includes center-weighted and spot metering for precision. Autofocus lock was generally quicker and more confident in well-lit settings. Unfortunately, face detection is absent as well, so you’ll need to rely on your skills to nail sharp focus on portraits or macro close-ups.

Regarding zoom capability:

• Panasonic offers a 28-140mm equivalent lens with f/2.8 wide aperture narrowing to f/6.9 telephoto.

• Samsung provides a slightly wider 24-120mm equivalent range, starting brighter at f/2.4 and tapering to f/5.8.

In practical terms, Samsung’s lens offers better low-light performance and a slightly wider angle for landscapes or street photography. However, Panasonic’s 28mm start is still wide enough for most situations.

Both lenses feature optical image stabilization, which was a boon handheld at telephoto focal lengths. Between the two, Samsung’s stabilization felt marginally more effective, helping capture sharper images in dim conditions.

Image Quality in Different Genres: How Each Camera Excels or Struggles

Enough about specs; let’s look at how these cameras truly perform across popular photography types. I tested both extensively through various real-world scenarios to better understand their strengths and limits.

Portrait Photography: Natural Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portrait shooters often crave accurate, pleasing skin tones and smooth background separation.

• FH3 produces vibrant, warm skin tones that feel inviting, although the slightly higher megapixel count allows more detail in hair and texture. The fixed lens’s f/2.8 aperture at wide angle provides moderate bokeh, but creeping into telephoto at f/6.9 drastically reduces background blur.

• TL350 excels in producing natural skin tones thanks to Samsung’s color science, and its f/2.4 wide aperture gives marginally better separation at 24mm equivalent. However, at telephoto settings, background blur remains limited.

Neither camera includes face or eye AF, so manual focus fine-tuning might be necessary for critical portraits.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Wide vistas require cameras that capture broad brightness ranges and fine detail.

• Panasonic’s higher resolution (14MP vs 10MP) translates into larger prints and more cropping flexibility, which landscape enthusiasts will appreciate. The CCD sensor delivers punchy colors, enhancing scenic vibrancy.

• Samsung’s CMOS sensor brings slightly better noise handling in shadows, which can help retain detail in dark foregrounds or shadowed rocks.

Both cameras’ maximum ISO ceilings (6400 for Panasonic, 3200 for Samsung) are mostly academic; you’ll want to keep ISO low for best quality. Unfortunately, neither supports RAW on Panasonic and Samsung does offer RAW capture, allowing more latitude in post-processing landscapes.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Rates

Fast action requires snappy autofocus and rapid frame capture.

• Panasonic FH3 offers a continuous shooting rate of 6 frames per second (fps), while Samsung TL350 speeds past it with 10 fps burst mode. However, given limited AF tracking on both, in practice neither is ideal for fast wildlife or sports.

• TL350’s faster shutter max (1/2000s vs 1/1600s) allows slightly better freezing of motion.

Still, both cameras belong more to casual sporting snaps rather than professional wildlife work.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion and Versatility

Compacts shine on city streets or travel journeys where discretion and convenience dominate.

• Panasonic’s smaller size and lighter weight lend it to blending into crowds unnoticed. The 28mm wide lens covers typical street angles well.

• Samsung’s richer manual exposure options and slightly wider angle can expand creative control on travel photo sets.

Both lack wireless connectivity or GPS tagging, which today’s travelers might miss. Also, battery life is comparable and modest - bring spares for daylong outings.

Macro Photography: Close-up Details and Stabilization

Close focusing capabilities can make or break your macro use-case.

• Both cameras focus down to 5cm, enabling decent close-ups of flowers or texture.

• Image stabilization was noticeably helpful here, facilitating handheld sharpness at such tight framing.

Neither supports focus stacking or bracketing, so final depth-of-field depends on aperture choices and composition.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Long Exposures

Shooting stars or cityscapes at night stresses sensor and noise control.

• Panasonic max shutter speed caps at 1/1600s, Samsung stretches to 1/2000s - not hugely pivotal for long exposures.

• Panasonic’s higher ISO ceiling (6400) sounds promising but is noisy in practice.

• Samsung’s cleaner ISO 800-1600 performance with RAW support offers better night shots after post-processing.

Neither supports bulb mode, limiting astro enthusiasts who want multi-minute exposures.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Formats, and Audio

Both cameras offer HD video capture, but differ in quality and features.

• Panasonic FH3 records 720p at 30fps using Motion JPEG codec, resulting in large files and limited editing flexibility.

• Samsung TL350 shoots full 1080p (1920x1080) 30fps with H.264 compression, offering better quality and manageable file sizes.

Neither camera has external mic inputs, headphone jacks, or in-body mic quality enhancements, meaning audio is basic. The Samsung’s HDMI output aids external playback monitoring, another plus for video enthusiasts.

Professional Use: Workflow and Reliability Concerns

For professional photographers, these compacts serve mostly as backups or casual walkaround cameras.

• Samsung TL350’s RAW support integrates better with professional workflows; Panasonic FH3’s lack of RAW limits post-processing finesse.

• Both cameras lack environmental sealing - no dust, water, or freeze resistance - so exercise caution outdoors.

• Files can be stored on SD cards, both support internal memory but limited in size.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Neither camera shines in wireless connectivity - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC here - reflecting their 2010 roots.

Battery life details are sparse but typical for compacts of this era - expect ~200 shots per battery, variable by usage.

Both rely on standard SD/SDHC memory cards, which remain accessible and affordable.

Pricing and Value: Which One is Worth Your Money?

Here’s the bottom line on price:

• Panasonic FH3 launched around $160, targeting budget-conscious buyers.

• Samsung TL350 was positioned nearly double, at about $400, reflecting its richer feature set and manual controls.

Are the extra features worth the premium? In my experience, yes - especially if you value manual exposure modes, better video quality, and a sharper LCD. However, if you want a simple, compact point-and-shoot for casual snaps and easy operation without fuss, Panasonic FI3 remains a compelling choice.

Verdict: Which Compact Should You Choose?

To help visualize the overall takeaways, here’s the performance summary:

And here’s a breakdown by photography genres for clarity:

My recommendations:

• Choose Panasonic Lumix FH3 if:

  • Budget is tight or you want a lightweight, pocketable companion.
  • You prioritize simple operation over granular manual controls.
  • Your shooting mainly involves daylight portraits, casual landscapes, and travel snapshots.
  • Video quality is less important.

• Choose Samsung TL350 if:

  • You want better manual exposure modes (including aperture priority and shutter priority).
  • You desire sharper video (1080p H.264) and a superior rear LCD for composing and reviewing content.
  • You shoot often in low light and want better high ISO performance and RAW file support.
  • You value burst speed for action shots.
  • Cost is less of a concern, and you prefer a slightly more substantial grip.

Final Thoughts: Reflecting on a Decade-Old Rivalry

The Panasonic FH3 and Samsung TL350 epitomize two distinct philosophies in compact camera design from 2010. Panasonic favored simple, user-friendly imaging with respectable image detail, while Samsung pushed the envelope with versatile controls and stronger video performance, albeit at a higher price.

Neither camera will rival today’s mirrorless or even modern compacts, but in their era, each carved a niche. If you happen upon a used TL350 at a great price, it’s a fine choice for enthusiasts needing manual control in a pint-sized package. The FH3 remains a solid grab-and-go option for those who cherish ease and portability above all.

The world of small sensor compacts like these, although largely eclipsed by smartphones and mirrorless cameras today, still offers valuable lessons in trade-offs between simplicity, control, and imaging characteristics. Hope this breakdown helps you decide which legacy model might suit your needs or satisfies your curiosity about where compact tech was headed 14 years ago.

Sample Images Gallery: Quality Comparison Under Different Conditions

To truly appreciate what these cameras can produce, here’s a side-by-side gallery of JPEG outputs from both under varied conditions:

Panasonic FH3 screen back Samsung TL350 front Samsung TL350 screen back

You’ll notice Panasonic’s sharper detail and punchy colors in good light, while Samsung’s shots hold up better in shadows and darker scenes.

Thanks for reading this deep dive! Feel free to reach out with any questions about these cameras or other photography gear - I’m always eager to help enthusiasts find their perfect match.