Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620: Which Compact Camera Suits Your Photography?

In the ever-evolving world of compact digital cameras, finding the right balance of features, ergonomics, and image quality at an affordable price is a perennial challenge. Today, I’m diving deep into a head-to-head comparison of two modestly priced small sensor compacts released back in early 2012: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620. Both target casual shooters and enthusiasts looking for portability without sacrificing basic photographic controls, but which one truly delivers better value and real-world performance? With over 15 years testing cameras across genres, I’ll unpack their strengths and compromises uncovered in my hands-on trials.

Getting a Feel for the Cameras: Size, Ergonomics, and Design

Handling a camera is the first step towards a satisfying photographic experience, and both these models aim for pocket-friendly convenience.

The Panasonic FH6’s dimensions (96 × 56 × 20 mm) closely match the Sony W620 (98 × 56 × 20 mm), making both easy to slip into a jacket pocket or small bag. Weighing 119 g and 116 g respectively - remarkably light by today’s standards - they excel at being travel companions on quick excursions or urban strolls.

Despite similar sizes, the Panasonic’s lens barrel is slightly more compact, contributing to a somewhat balance-forward grip, but with no dedicated thumb rest or textured surfaces, neither offers robust ergonomics for prolonged shooting. The Sony’s body feels a tad firmer in hand thanks to its subtle curvature, but both cameras shy away from any weather sealing, so caution in wet or dusty environments is necessary.

Ergonomically, controls on both are minimal. The FH6 relies on the simplicity of its fixed lens and basic mode dial, while the W620 uses Sony’s traditional button layouts. Neither model presents manual exposure options, so expect fully automatic operation complemented by simple scene modes. This suits novices but may frustrate photographers who want finer control.

From a top-down perspective...

You’ll find the Panasonic emphasizes fewer buttons with a clean shutter and zoom rocker, while Sony adds a modest dedicated flash button, hinting at ease of access for quick adjustments. The absence of viewfinders on both - relying solely on LCD screens - reinforces their compact, entry-level design ethos.

In summary: For sheer portability and casual grab-and-go use, both cameras shine. While neither is geared for comfort beyond short bursts, the Sony’s slightly refined grip and button layout give it a marginal edge in everyday handling.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Expectations?

Both cameras feature a 14-megapixel CCD sensor of nearly identical 1/2.3" size, with Panasonic’s sensor measuring 6.08×4.56 mm and Sony’s 6.17×4.55 mm - negligible differences physically. However, sensor specs are only part of the story.

CCD sensors, favored in the early 2010s for their color rendering, have largely been replaced by CMOS technology due to speed and higher ISO capabilities. These cameras’ CCDs limit low-light performance and high ISO usability, a fact evident in real-world shoots.

In practice, both cameras produce respectable daylight images, with sharpness tapering towards the edges – typical for compact cameras’ built-in zoom lenses. Panasonic’s FH6 benefits from its slightly wider 24mm equivalent wide-angle capability versus the Sony W620 starting at 28mm, allowing a bit more room for landscapes and group shots.

Dynamic range is modestly tight on both cameras, leading to clipped highlights in bright scenes and loss of shadow detail without careful exposure. Neither supports RAW capture, locking you into compressed JPEG files - an important consideration for enthusiasts who prioritize post-processing flexibility.

Color rendition is warm and pleasing on the Panasonic with its custom white balance options, whereas the Sony leans neutral but skews slightly cooler. I appreciated Panasonic’s face detection autofocus in portraits, which helps maintain focus on subjects’ eyes subtly, though real bokeh rendering is limited; both have maximum apertures starting at F2.5 (Panasonic) and F3.2 (Sony), narrowing significantly toward telephoto.

On the resolution front, both deliver 4320×3240 max images - enough for 8×10-inch prints or web use, but larger enlargements begin to show softness and noise.

Touching Screens and Interface: How We Frame Our Shots

The 2.7-inch LCD displays on both models share a 230k-pixel resolution, typical for their market segment during release. However, the underlying tech reveals some distinctions.

Panasonic employs a standard TFT Color LCD without touch capabilities, while Sony’s “Clear Photo TFT LCD” branding reflects Sony’s emphasis on contrast and brightness improvements. Neither screen is touchscreen-enabled, understandable given their budget nature, but the Sony’s display felt marginally brighter and more readable outdoors.

Neither camera offers live histogram overlays or detailed shooting info, which reduces direct feedback for photographers learning exposure principles. The FH6’s menu seemed marginally more intuitive, with fewer nested layers, while Sony’s interface integrates scene modes and red-eye reduction settings into a simpler mode dial.

Usefully, both cameras have face detection autofocus, but Panasonic offers nine contrast detection points with face-priority that usually locks focus quicker, compensating somewhat for the slow contrast-detect AF systems typical for compact CCD cameras.

Autofocus and Shooting Experience: Speed, Accuracy, and Burst

In my field tests - spanning a café portrait session (with natural window light) to a bustling weekend market walk - the autofocus experience was instructive.

The Panasonic FH6 provides contrast-detection autofocus with nine focus areas and face detection. Noteworthy is the absence of continuous AF tracking and limited burst mode capabilities capped at just 2 frames per second. Still, AF was relatively reliable in good light, snapping accurately on faces and center points.

The Sony W620 introduces a slight upgrade with center-weighted AF and unspecified autofocus points, plus face detection and even tracking capability. However, burst shooting barely inches forward at 1 fps, and AF occasionally hunts with moving subjects. In lower light, contrast detection systems on both struggle noticeably, often hunting for focus in dim indoor scenarios.

In sports or wildlife photography terms - where focus speed and precision are paramount - neither camera is suitable if chasing fast action is your goal. But for everyday snapshots, portraits, or casual street photography, their AF systems are adequate.

Lens Performance: Reach, Aperture, and Macro Capability

Both units have fixed lenses with a 5× optical zoom:

• Panasonic FH6: 24-120mm equivalent, f/2.5-6.4
• Sony W620: 28-140mm equivalent, f/3.2-6.5

The wider starting point on the Panasonic is a tangible benefit outdoors where getting more in frame matters, particularly for landscapes and group portraits. The Sony’s longer 140mm telephoto end provides a bit more reach, useful for isolating distant subjects, but the narrow apertures beyond the wide end mean slower shutter speeds and potential image shake.

Both include macro modes with close focusing down to about 5cm, but image sharpness at closest distances suffers from softening and chromatic aberrations common in compact zooms. Optical image stabilization on Panasonic (absent on Sony) helps reduce blur in low light and telephoto shots - a significant advantage when shooting handheld.

Taking It to the Outdoors: Weather Resistance and Durability

Neither camera offers weather sealing or protection from dust or shocks, so both require gentle handling outdoors in challenging conditions.

Their plastic build, light weight, and minimal grip zones encourage care. Given their 2012 release dates, durability expectations should be modest.

Video Capabilities: Simple HD Video for Family Moments

When it comes to video, both support HD 720p recording at 30 fps with Motion JPEG encoding, which results in relatively large files and minimal compression efficiency. There is no 1080p option, no external mic inputs, and no headphone monitoring - limiting their appeal for serious videographers.

Panasonic’s built-in optical stabilization provides steadier footage, while Sony’s lack of stabilization leads to shake during handheld recording, especially when zoomed. Neither model offers manual video exposure or focus modes.

Given these limitations, I’d recommend these cameras only for casual home videos or quick clip-sharing, not for professional video work.

Connectivity and Storage: How We Transfer and Keep Our Shots

Storage-wise, Panasonic supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot and internal memory, while Sony goes further with a broad list including microSD, Memory Stick Duo and Pro Duo formats - reflecting Sony’s ecosystem at the time.

The Panasonic FH6 lacks wireless connectivity. Sony’s W620 does feature Eye-Fi card support, enabling wireless image transfers via compatible cards - a rare feature in budget compacts back in 2012.

Both cameras include USB 2.0 ports for direct file transfer but no HDMI ports or NFC.

Battery Life and Portability: Shooting All Day

Battery life counts heavily in travel and event shooting. Panasonic offers approximately 280 shots per charge versus Sony’s rated 220 shots. Both use proprietary rechargeable battery packs, but Panasonic’s marginally better longevity is a small plus.

Real-World Sample Gallery

After countless shooting sessions in varying lighting, I curated some side-by-side images to illustrate how these cameras perform.

Panasonic FH6 front Panasonic FH6 screen back Sony W620 front Sony W620 screen back

Highlights from the Panasonic FH6 show slightly warmer skin tones in portraits and better discipline in casual daylight macro shots, thanks partly to optical stabilization and wider aperture. The Sony W620 delivers neutral color balance but occasionally shows more noise in shadowed foliage in landscapes.

Scoring Overall and Across Photography Types

Based on my evaluation criteria - image quality, ergonomics, autofocus, versatility, and value - here’s a summary of overall performance:

Drilling deeper, here’s how each camera fares in specific photographic genres, reflecting different use case demands:

Who Should Consider Each Camera?

For photographers deciding between these two budget-friendly compacts, here are my candid recommendations drawn from direct experience:

Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 if you:

• Prioritize a slightly wider lens for landscapes and group shots (24mm).
• Appreciate optical image stabilization for sharper handheld photos and videos.
• Value warmer color tones and customizable white balance for portraits.
• Want marginally better battery life.
• Shoot mostly in stable light conditions and casual environments.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620 if you:

• Prefer a longer telephoto reach (140mm equivalent) for occasional zoomed-in captures.
• Want a sharper LCD in bright light and wireless transfer capabilities via Eye-Fi.
• Favor a slightly better grip and straightforward interface.
• Accept slower shooting speeds and no image stabilization.
• Need support for various card types (Memory Stick and SD).

Final Thoughts: Are These Cameras Still Worth It?

Both the Panasonic FH6 and Sony W620 reflect their 2012 compact camera heritage with modest sensor tech, limited manual controls, and target ease of use for casual shooters. In today's era where smartphone cameras deliver superior image quality, speed, and computational enhancements, these models show their age but still hold nostalgic appeal and value for collectors or users who want a simple, dedicated point-and-shoot with optical zoom.

If you require better low-light performance, speed, or professional-grade image quality, I recommend looking at modern compact cameras with CMOS sensors, RAW support, and faster processors.

However, if your interest lies in a basic, lightweight travel camera for casual snapshots, either might suffice depending on your preference for lens reach or color rendition.

My Methodology

Throughout testing, I maintained controlled conditions alongside real-world scenarios, comparing default JPEG outputs without post-processing, and scrutinized mechanical functions and UI responses during extended use. I also tested battery endurance via standardized cycles. This approach ensures assessment reliability with actionable insights for buyers.

If you’re still searching for a straightforward compact with minimal learning curve, the Panasonic FH6 edges ahead for image quality and stability, while the Sony W620 offers subtle ergonomic and connectivity benefits. Hopefully, my detailed breakdown helps you match these cameras to your photographic aspirations.

Happy shooting!