Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiast Photographers

Choosing the right camera is an intensely personal decision, especially when the options are as different as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V. I’ve spent many hours testing both under varied conditions, dissecting their specs, and shooting my way through portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more. In this detailed comparison, I aim to present an honest, experience-based analysis of these two cameras - from sensor and autofocus performance to build quality and real-world usability - to help you decide which could best suit your shooting style and budget.

At First Glance: Size, Build, and Handling

The Panasonic FH3 is the epitome of compactness, weighing just 165 grams and easily slipping into a jacket pocket. Its small footprint (98x55x24 mm) makes it an ideal travel or everyday carry camera. The simple, fixed-lens design emphasizes portability over customization. I appreciated how unobtrusive it was during street photography sessions, allowing me to blend into crowds without drawing attention.

In stark contrast, the Sony HX100V steps into the bridge camera category with a substantial, SLR-inspired grip design, sized at 122x87x93 mm and weighing 577 grams. The body materials feel noticeably more robust, though it’s still largely plastic with no weather-sealing to speak of. This larger form factor aids ergonomics during long shooting sessions, particularly with its deep grip and dedicated manual controls - a real boon for users wanting more creative control on the go.

What really stood out to me in side-by-side handling was the control layout. The Panasonic FH3 keeps things straightforward, with minimal buttons and no customizable dials - perfect for beginners or casual shooters. The Sony, on the other hand, sports a wealth of buttons and a zoom toggle around the shutter, allowing quick access to aperture, shutter priority modes, ISO adjustments, and manual focus override.

My testing reinforced that the Panasonic is for those who want simple, point-and-shoot ease, whereas the Sony appeals to photographers craving superzoom reach and the latitude to tinker with settings - a more serious tool for enthusiasts.

Sensor and Image Quality: Tiny Sensors with Different Technologies

Both cameras pack a 1/2.3" sensor, but the Panasonic FH3 uses an older CCD sensor with 14 megapixels, while the Sony HX100V features a newer 16 MP BSI-CMOS sensor. On paper, the Sony’s back-side illuminated chip allows greater light gathering efficiency, especially in challenging lighting.

In my side-by-side comparisons, this translated into noticeable differences in image quality. The Panasonic produces decent color rendition under ideal daylight, yet struggles in low light with higher noise levels emerging from ISO 400 onwards, along with a distinct softness around edges. The sensor’s CCD nature contributes to slower performance and limits exposure latitude, particularly noticeable in shadows.

Meanwhile, the Sony's BSI-CMOS sensor handled shadow recovery better with improved dynamic range and cleaner high-ISO results up to ISO 800 or 1600 - though grain became noticeable beyond that. The incremental two megapixels didn’t create a resolution gap so much as the sensor technology and processing pipeline. Images from the Sony demonstrated richer midtones and generally more vibrant output, partly thanks to the BIONZ processor’s noise reduction algorithms.

Panasonic’s anti-aliasing filter tends to soften fine detail to reduce moiré patterns, while the Sony strikes a more balanced compromise, preserving texture better. In macro and landscape shots, I found the Sony had a slight edge in clarity, though neither camera rivals larger APS-C or full-frame systems in overall image fidelity.

The Viewfinder and Screens: Visibility and Interface

Here the two diverge sharply. The Panasonic FH3 has a simple 2.7-inch fixed LCD screen with a low resolution of 230k dots, limiting image review quality and live composition precision. The absence of a viewfinder means you rely entirely on this modest screen, which can become challenging in bright sunlight.

Sony’s HX100V features a much more advanced 3-inch tilt-enabled LCD with 921k dot resolution and TruBlack technology, improving contrast and reducing reflections outdoors. More importantly, the Sony includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF), invaluable for shooting in bright conditions where LCD glare hampers composition. Though the EVF resolution is unspecified by Sony, I found it reasonably clear for framing and manual focus confirmation.

During my wildlife and street outings in harsh daylight, the HX100V’s EVF made a significant ergonomic and compositional difference. The tilting LCD also enabled low and high-angle shots without awkward body contortions - a flexibility missing on the Panasonic.

Lenses and Zoom: Range Versus Speed

In terms of optics, the Panasonic FH3 packs a 28-140 mm equivalent zoom (5x), with a bright starting aperture of f/2.8 at the wide end but narrowing considerably to f/6.9 at telephoto. This setup is fairly standard for a compact and works well for portraits and general shooting. Its 5 cm macro focus capability allows close-ups but with mixed results due to the sensor and lens optics limitation.

The Sony HX100V blows this away with an enormous 27-810 mm equivalent superzoom (30x), opening at f/2.8 and narrowing to f/5.6 when telephoto. This zoom range is exceptional for wildlife and sports photography, bringing distant subjects up close with decent sharpness. The lens is impressively versatile, although at maximum zoom some softness and chromatic aberration appear, as expected in such extensive optical designs.

In practice, I found the Sony’s lens to be the defining feature, offering far more creative options especially for travel and outdoor shooting where changing lenses isn’t possible. The Panasonic’s lens offers quality and speed advantages for walk-around shooting but simply can’t compete with the HX100V’s reach.

Autofocus Systems: Where Speed and Precision Matter

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus (CDAF), a standard for compact cameras, but the Panasonic’s lower-end design lacks face or eye-detection features, providing nine fixed focus points without tracking abilities. This means in active shooting scenarios, particularly with moving subjects, the FH3 occasionally hunted for focus or locked on less relevant areas.

The Sony HX100V incorporates more intelligent CDAF with multi-area autofocus, spot AF, and center-weighted options. While it does not feature phase-detect AF or eye-detection (common metrics on higher-end cameras), its autofocus performed more responsively in my testing, with reduced hunting times and better subject acquisition. The continuous shooting speeds of 10 fps versus 6 fps on the Panasonic give the Sony the advantage for action photography too.

For wildlife or sports, that difference matters - the Sony HX100V can capture fleeting moments with greater confidence, although neither camera can truly match dedicated DSLRs or mirrorless cameras in autofocus precision and speed.

Video Capabilities: HD Quality and Features

Video has become a key factor for many photographers, especially those who blend stills and motion.

The Panasonic FH3 offers 720p HD video at 30 fps encoded in Motion JPEG - a codec that results in large file sizes and older compression quality. Video controls are minimal, with no manual exposure or audio input options.

In contrast, the Sony HX100V steps ahead with 1080p Full HD recording at 60 fps and formats including MPEG-4 and AVCHD. This results in cleaner, more cinematic video with smoother motion. Despite lacking external microphone input, the Sony provides more exposure control during filming and superior image stabilization. The built-in GPS tagging is a bonus for video geotagging.

From my hands-on experience, the Sony offers much more usable video for hybrid shooters, while the Panasonic’s video is best suited for casual or short home movies.

Battery, Connectivity, and Practical Features

The Panasonic uses a small, unspecified battery typical of compacts, with limited life reported by users, sufficient for around 200-300 shots. No wireless connectivity or GPS limits functionality for modern sharing and location tagging.

Sony’s HX100V offers improved battery capacity through the NP-FH50 battery, allowing roughly 400 shots per charge under mixed use. Eye-Fi card compatibility enables wireless transfer over Wi-Fi networks, and the built-in GPS is a rare bonus within this price range and category.

The Panasonic stores images on standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and has no HDMI port. Sony supports multiple memory card formats, including Memory Stick Duo, and includes HDMI output - handy for instant playback on HDTVs.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary

Real-World Photography Tests by Genre

Now, let me share insights from how these cameras performed across typical shooting scenarios, based on my hands-on tests in multiple conditions.

Portraiture: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The FH3’s bright f/2.8 at wide angle lens captured pleasant skin tones in outdoor daylight with a warm cast that works well for casual portraits. However, its limited telephoto reach and slower aperture (f/6.9 at 140 mm) restrict shallow depth-of-field bokeh, resulting in flatter backgrounds. The fixed 2.7" LCD screen makes manual focus checking difficult.

The Sony HX100V extends to 810 mm telephoto, where at longer focal lengths I could achieve better subject separation with softer backgrounds, despite the smaller 1/2.3" sensor. Its manual exposure modes and faster aperture (f/2.8 to f/5.6) gave me flexible control over depth and tones. The tilting screen and EVF helped nail focus on eyes even in shade.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Detail

Landscape scenes benefit from wider dynamic range and resolution. Here, the Sony’s CMOS sensor marginally edged out the Panasonic, delivering better midtone separation and detail in skies and foliage. The higher screen resolution and exposure control helped compose carefully.

The Panasonic often clipped highlights due to limited sensor latitude. Both cameras offer wide aspect ratios (4:3, 16:9), but neither supports raw capture, limiting post-processing latitude for landscape photographers.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Speed

For fast-paced, unpredictable subjects, the Sony’s 10 fps burst frame rate and intelligent multi-area AF gave me a tangible advantage. Its 30x optical zoom nailed distant birds and athletes without changing lenses. The Panasonic’s 6 fps and simple focus system struggled to keep moving subjects sharp, particularly at telephoto lengths.

Street Photography: Discreteness vs Control

With its tiny size and quiet operation, the Panasonic FH3 excels in street photography where low profile is vital. Its limited zoom range reduces adaptability but encourages closer engagement.

The Sony, although larger and more conspicuous, offers tilting screen and EVF for shooting from the hip and manual exposure for creative snapshots. The extra weight and bulk make it less covert, but its versatility is hard to match.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Focus

The Panasonic’s 5 cm macro mode is a highlight for casual close-up shots of flowers and objects, yielding decent sharpness given its sensor constraints. The Sony does not specify macro focusing range, and its extensive zoom can sometimes complicate precise close focusing.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO Performance

Night shooting is a challenge for both cameras due to their small sensors. The Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor outperforms the Panasonic’s CCD in noise handling up to ISO 800, but beyond that, grain and detail loss occur. The Panasonic’s max ISO 6400 is more theoretical than practical due to noise.

Neither supports long exposure modes beyond 60 seconds (Panasonic) or 30 seconds (Sony), limiting astrophotography. Lack of raw output restricts noise reduction options.

Video Use: Handheld Full HD Recording

Here, the Sony excels with smooth, full HD 60 fps footage and better codec efficiency, plus optical image stabilization. The lack of microphone input is a drawback for serious videographers.

The Panasonic delivers basic 720p clips suitable for family videos but lacks flexibility for advanced users.

Travel Photography: Compactness vs Versatility

For travel, the Panasonic FH3’s featherweight design and simple operation mean it’s ready anytime, anywhere - ideal for casual photographers or as a secondary camera.

The Sony HX100V offers unrivaled zoom flexibility and advanced features but demands a larger bag and adds weight. It’s a better choice for travelers wanting to consolidate gear.

Professional Considerations: Reliability and Workflow

Neither camera supports raw shooting, limiting professional workflow integration for color grading and retouching. Both cameras lack robust weather sealing or ruggedness.

Sony’s manual modes and exposure controls give more creative latitude, but both are best suited as back-up or street/travel cameras rather than primary professional tools.

Performance Scores and Final Assessment

To quantify my findings, I rated both cameras across key performance metrics:

Breaking down into genre-specific strengths:

Summing Up: Which Camera is Right for You?

Having spent hundreds of hours testing these cameras in diverse scenarios, here’s how I would advise selecting between them:

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FH3 if:

• You want a lightweight, pocketable camera for casual, everyday use or travel.
• Ultra-compact size and ease of use trump feature complexity.
• You mostly shoot in good light and prefer autofocus simplicity.
• Video and advanced controls are less important.
• Budget is tight, aiming for a camera around $160.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot HX100V if:

• You need a versatile superzoom for wildlife, sports, or travel photography.
• Manual controls and better image quality (especially in low light) are priorities.
• You want Full HD video with smooth frame rates and stabilization.
• The weight and size are acceptable trade-offs for increased creative flexibility.
• You seek features like GPS geotagging and an EVF.
• Your budget can stretch to roughly $430.

Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

Both the Panasonic FH3 and Sony HX100V occupy distinct places on the compact camera spectrum - one prioritizing portability and simplicity, the other zoom range and creative freedom. My professional testing repeatedly confirmed that neither is a professional-grade device but can shine in the right hands and contexts.

If you value carrying a device that is always at hand and simple to operate, the Panasonic FH3 remains a viable, affordable choice. However, if zoom reach, better low-light performance, and video capabilities matter to your work or hobbies, the Sony HX100V is a far more capable camera - even with compromises in size and price.

Ultimately, your ideal camera will depend on your photography goals, genres, and willingness to trade size for functionality. I hope this in-depth, experience-driven comparison helps clarify your decision - and inspires your next photographic adventure.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with Panasonic or Sony. These evaluations are based on extensive personal testing using standardized methods across various shooting scenarios.

Panasonic FH3 screen back Sony HX100V front Sony HX100V screen back