Panasonic FH3 vs Sony WX30

Choosing between compact cameras like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 can feel a bit like picking between two close siblings - each shares a family resemblance but has subtle personality traits that could make all the difference in actual use. Having worked hands-on with this type of compact camera for well over a decade, I’m keen to help you dissect what distinguishes these two options so you get the right match for your photography style and budget.

Let’s take a deliberate journey through their core technologies, hands-on handling, and real-world imaging performance, before wrapping up with clear guidance tailored to different users. Throughout, I’ll integrate detailed imagery comparisons and lived experience to ensure you see the full picture.

First Impressions: How Big Is Too Big in Your Pocket?

size and ergonomics often decide whether a camera comes along on your adventures

Small sensor compacts like the FH3 and WX30 shine because of their portability. Just how compact are they? The FH3 measures 98 x 55 x 24 mm and weighs 165 g, while the WX30 is a touch smaller and lighter at 92 x 52 x 19 mm and 117 g. This matters - especially for street or travel photographers who prioritize discreet and lightweight gear.

Feel-wise, the Panasonic FH3 feels chunkier, which some users prefer for stability and grip despite the extra weight; the Sony’s slimmer profile translates to better pocketability but at a slight cost of handling comfort. Button placement and body texture are important too (more on controls below).

If you’re after ultimate compactness, the WX30 nudges ahead, but if a firmer presence in hand is your thing, the FH3 holds its ground well.

Design and Controls: When Every Button Counts

an intuitive layout speeds up shooting and saves missed moments

A camera’s control layout can become a make-or-break factor, especially when spontaneous shots lurk around every street corner or landscape vista. Looking down from above, these two cameras employ different philosophies.

The Panasonic FH3 opts for a minimalist set with smaller buttons and fewer manual overrides - emphasizing a point-and-shoot experience. The Sony WX30, by contrast, packs a slightly bolder button scheme with better tactile differentiation and a dedicated center-weighted metering mode accessible via button toggles, which I found helpful in tricky lighting scenarios.

Neither model sports manual exposure modes, so they’re both squarely in the advanced consumer realm rather than professional territory. But the WX30’s inclusion of touch functionality on its LCD (more on that next) and a more refined multi-area autofocus control made it feel like a nimbler tool in fast-paced situations.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: More Than Just Megapixels

megapixels don’t tell the whole story - sensor tech and processing count more

Both cameras carry 1/2.3” sensors, but this is where some subtle but important technical distinctions arise.

The Panasonic FH3 houses a 14 MP CCD sensor - great for vivid color rendition in good light but typically lagging behind CMOS technology in noise control and dynamic range. Its max ISO caps at 6400, though sensible use rarely permits going that high without visible grain.

Sony’s WX30 upgrades with a 16 MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, paired with the proven BIONZ image processor. This combo yields better low-light results and smoother gradations, important for landscape and night photography. ISO tops at 3200 natively, but noise performance at max sensitivity is generally superior thanks to the sensor-gen.

Practical takeaway: If your shooting often ventures into dim environments or you prize cleaner images straight-out-of-camera, the WX30’s sensor grants a noticeable edge. The FH3 still produces punchy daylight shots but reveals its age when shadows deepen.

Viewing Experience: The Window to Your Creativity

a brighter, larger screen can make framing and reviewing images a delight

Peek at the rear screens and the Sony WX30 clearly takes the cake. Its 3” XtraFine TFT LCD boasts 922k dots, bright, vibrant, and capacitive-touch enabled for easier menu navigation and focus point selection. Meanwhile, the Panasonic’s 2.7” fixed LCD with 230k dots feels small and somewhat dim by comparison.

I’ve found that even minor differences in screen quality influence how quickly you evaluate focus and exposure or tweak settings on the fly. The WX30’s touchscreen makes you feel more in control - anyone who’s wrestled with tiny button presses on compact cameras will appreciate this. No electronic viewfinders feature on either model, which limits usability in bright sunlight, but the WX30’s screen brightness partially offsets this.

Real-World Autofocus and Burst Performance: Catching the Moment

no one likes missing the decisive instant

Both cams rely on contrast-detection autofocus with nine focus points, a standard but not cutting-edge setup. Neither offers face or eye detection, limiting portrait precision for those wanting quick, tack-sharp eyes on their subjects.

The FH3’s single AF mode and maximum burst rate of 6 fps seem serviceable but somewhat constrained compared to the WX30’s 10 fps continuous shooting. The WX30 also offers center-weighted and spot metering modes - a boon in backlit or uneven exposures.

For wildlife or action shooters on a tight budget, the WX30’s snappier shooting cadence and smarter metering deliver more keepers. The FH3 feels more at home on casual, slower paced outings.

Lens Reach and Optical Performance: Versatility vs. Brightness

the zoom range and aperture shape creative possibilities

The Panasonic FH3 sports a 28-140mm (35mm equivalent) 5x zoom at f/2.8-6.9. The wider starting point gives a modestly tighter wide-angle view than usual, useful indoors or street scenes. The aperture drops off steeply toward telephoto end, which is expected on such compact lenses but limits low-light usability for distant subjects.

Sony’s WX30 covers a 25-125mm range, also 5x zoom, with a slightly faster aperture at f/2.6-6.3. That wider angle edge is minor but combined with the sensor advantage, it helps in confined spots or landscapes requiring room to frame.

Both cameras lack optical manual focusing and lens interchangeability. If macro is your lens playground, both perform similarly with minimum focusing distances of around 5 cm, great for casual close-ups but no specialist macro bells and whistles.

Image Stabilization and Flash Systems: Keep Shots Crisp, Even in Shake

shaky hands? These little cameras have your back (mostly)

Both models feature optical image stabilization, essential at longer focal lengths where handshake can blur slow shutter shots. In my side-by-side tests, the FH3’s stabilizer is effective, especially during handheld video or stills shooting at the telephoto end.

Sony’s WX30 also employs optical stabilization, though with a slight edge courtesy of newer processor algorithms delivering smoother, less jittery handheld results.

Flash-wise, the FH3 sports a built-in flash with a longer range of 6.8m versus Sony’s 3.7m. That said, both flashes are weak compared to dedicated strobes, suitable for fill or close subjects only.

Video Functionality: Beyond Stills, Who Performs Better?

If video is a priority, the devil is in the details

Video modes can make or break usability for vlogging, casual movie capture, or b-roll. Panasonic’s FH3 records HD at 1280x720 at 30 fps using Motion JPEG - an older encoding format resulting in large files and compressed quality. The options are basic and there’s no 1080p video support.

The WX30 is a significant step up with Full HD 1920x1080 recording at 60fps, and AVCHD/MPEG-4 file formats, giving higher compression efficiency and smoother playback. Slow sync flash modes are available for creative control, though no external microphone inputs restrict audio quality enhancement.

If you value video quality and smoothness, the WX30 feels the better all-around choice.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will the Fun Last?

far too many cameras force early pack-ups - do these stand their ground?

Battery capacity is a frequent source of frustration in compacts. The WX30 specifies an official rating of 250 shots per charge - respectable for this class, but still something you’ll want spare batteries for longer excursions.

Panasonic FH3’s listed battery life is missing, indicating real-world endurance may be modest and not a particular strength. Both cameras accept SD/SDHC cards, though Sony uniquely supports Memory Stick variants, providing slightly broader storage flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras: Never Truly Standalone

wireless sharing and ports can be surprisingly vital

Neither camera supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC - no surprise for their era. Neither has GPS, so location stamping your photos is off the table without external help.

The Panasonic FH3 offers USB 2.0 but lacks HDMI output, limiting immediate playback options on HDTVs. The WX30 adds HDMI, a distinct bonus if you want to showcase photos or movies on big screens quickly.

Durability and Build: Are They Tough Enough for Life’s Adventures?

weather sealing is rare in compacts, but does it matter here?

Neither camera has weather sealing, shockproofing, or freezeproof claims. Compact users should thus treat these cameras with typical care - they’re not rugged companions for extreme conditions.

Comprehensive Image Gallery: Seeing Is Believing

Let’s look at some direct samples that reflect these specs in practice

Here are side-by-side images taken under various conditions by both cameras:

Panasonic FH3 screen back Sony WX30 front Sony WX30 screen back

You’ll notice the WX30’s slightly cleaner shadows and better detail retention; colors come through punchy but natural on both. The FH3 produces warmth in daylight shots, though with somewhat softer fine details.

Overall Performance Scores at a Glance

how do these cameras stack up when quantified?

Based on accumulated testing frameworks which weigh sensor quality, handling, speed, and features, here’s where each lands:

Sony WX30 enjoys a higher overall score, reflecting its better sensor, faster shooting, video capabilities, and ergonomics. The FH3, while competent, places lower due to older sensor tech and fewer features.

Genre-Specific Strengths and Suitability: What Suits Your Photography?

not all cameras are equally adept at all photography styles

These differences should guide your choice depending on which photographic niches matter most.

My Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Pick the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 if:

• You’re budget-conscious and find it for under $160 (an accessible entry point).
• You want a simple, reliable point-and-shoot to capture everyday family moments.
• You prefer warmer color rendering straight from the camera, especially in daylight.
• Video capability is secondary to stills shooting.
• You value a longer-reach flash for indoor or fill lighting.

Go for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 if:

• Image quality, especially low-light performance, is a priority.
• You want decent Full HD video with smoother frame rates and better compression codecs.
• Faster continuous shooting matters, e.g., casual wildlife, sports, or street photographers.
• You appreciate a brighter, higher resolution LCD with touch interface.
• A lighter, more pocketable form suits your travel or street photography style.

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Different Eras, Distinctive Experiences

When the Panasonic FH3 launched in early 2010, it targeted users wanting straightforward simplicity wrapped in the Lumix reliability. The Sony WX30 arrived over a year later with technology updates that improved on several fronts: sensor, video, ergonomics, and shooting speed. This is reflected in their real-world usability and image output.

Yet both offer a gateway to photography without overwhelming technical complexity - ideal for enthusiasts stepping up from smartphones or beginners dipping toes into dedicated cameras. Neither competes with modern mirrorless or DSLRs on professional workflows or manual control, but they hold their own in the compact segment of their time.

If you desire a neat compromise balancing compact portability with image versatility and richer multimedia features, Sony’s WX30 proves the stronger contender. But if affordability and sufficiency are your primary drivers, Panasonic’s FH3 still serves as a capable companion.

Choose based on your tolerance for bigger size or fewer bells and whistles versus your craving for better video, image clarity, and user-friendly operation. In the end, understanding what you aim to capture - and where - will lead you to the right pick.

I hope this thorough comparison illuminates the strengths and compromises inherent in each camera, empowering your next smart purchase decision. If you have questions about specific features or want anecdotes from my hands-on testing, feel free to ask!