Panasonic FH7 vs Sony RX100 III: An Insider’s Deep-Dive into Compact Camera Excellence

Choosing the right compact camera can be a surprisingly complex decision these days. With advances in sensor tech, autofocus, and image processing, a compact camera can sometimes punch well above its weight. But the trick is knowing which models truly deliver and which might just fall short in one or two key areas you care about most.

Today, I’m putting the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 head-to-head against the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III - two compacts separated by a few years but designed for very different audiences and budgets. I’ve put both cameras through my rigorous, real-world testing regimen including portrait, landscape, wildlife, and even video use cases.

Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick orientation:

• The Panasonic FH7 (announced 2011) is an entry-level, small sensor compact with a simple fixed lens and basic features.
• The Sony RX100 III (2014) is a premium, large sensor compact known for its remarkable image quality and versatile feature set.

Buckle up. This comparison shows why the RX100 III commands a higher price, and where the FH7 might still have an unexpected appeal.

How Do They Compare In Size and Handling?

The first impression when cradling a camera in your hand says a lot about its intended use. Compact cameras are, by definition, small - but “small” can mean many things.

Looking at the physical dimensions: the Panasonic FH7 weighs only 126 grams with a slim profile of 95 x 56 x 19 mm. You almost forget it’s there in your pocket, making it ideal for pure carry-anywhere convenience.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 III is chunkier and heavier at 290 grams and measures 102 x 58 x 41 mm. It feels more substantial, with a grip that inspires confidence in hand. This compact still fits in a jacket pocket but demands a dedicated camera pocket in a backpack.

Ergonomically, the RX100 III’s larger form translates to better control placement and a more balanced feel for manual adjustments, while the Panasonic leans heavily toward auto modes and simplicity.

Looking at control layouts, the FH7’s top plate is minimalist - a play/pause button and a mode dial that feels a touch cramped, limited in options like shutter or aperture priority modes. In contrast, the RX100 III impresses with a dedicated mode dial, physical control rings around the lens for zoom and aperture, and a pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF), enhancing compositional precision outdoors.

My takeaway: If you want ergonomics and tactile controls that reward deliberate shooting, RX100 III wins handily. But if ultra-compact pocketability rules your world, the FH7's featherweight profile remains compelling.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here's where the crops of compact cameras often diverge sharply - sensor technology and resulting image quality.

The FH7 uses a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, measuring only 6.08 x 4.56 mm with roughly 16 MP resolution. Its small size limits light-gathering capability, resulting in modest dynamic range and noticeable noise at higher ISOs.

Conversely, the RX100 III boasts a much larger 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm) with 20 MP resolution. More sensor area means more photons captured per pixel, richer color depth, and better low-light capabilities. DxOMark scores confirm this advantage, with the RX100 III showing superior color depth (22.4 bits vs untested for FH7), wider dynamic range (12.3 vs unknown), and cleaner high ISO performance.

In practical terms, portraits and landscapes shot with the RX100 III reveal more detail in shadows and highlights, more accurate skin tones, and less visible noise, especially beyond ISO 400. The FH7’s images can look flat in challenging lighting and grainy in indoor or night settings.

Evaluating Practical Photography Across Genres

Let’s break down how each camera performs in common shooting scenarios - revealing real strengths and limitations.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture places a premium on sharp eye detection, pleasant bokeh, and true-to-life skin tones.

The RX100 III offers face detection AF with 25 focus points and selective AF modes, enabling very reliable eye-tracking. Its fast aperture range - F1.8 to F2.8 - allows shallow depth of field and creamy, smooth backgrounds even indoors.

By contrast, the FH7 has face detection but lacks sophisticated AF point selection and eye detection. Its lens is quite slow (F3.1 to F6.5), so isolated subjects against soft backgrounds are harder to achieve. Skin tones come out decent under good lighting but can appear washed out or noisy at higher ISOs.

Landscape Photography

Here, resolution, dynamic range, and lens sharpness matter most.

The RX100 III, with 20 MP and excellent dynamic range, outperforms the FH7’s 16 MP small CMOS sensor by a wide margin. It captures richer textures and preserves highlights in skies and shadows in forests better.

While neither camera offers weather sealing or robust environmental protections, I found the RX100 III’s image quality and lens sharpness far more suited to landscape work.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Both cameras struggle a bit here due to sensor size and lens limitations, but the RX100 III shines thanks to:

• 10 fps continuous shooting compared to 4 fps on the FH7
• More versatile autofocus modes including continuous and tracking AF
• Faster lens and better sensitivity for low light

The FH7 is simply too basic for most fast-action photography; hunting autofocus modes is a guessing game.

Street Photography

Compact size, discretion, and quick responsiveness define street photography tools.

The FH7’s ultra-thin, pocketable design is an advantage if absolute stealth is your goal - but its slow lens and limited AF options can slow you down.

The RX100 III, while larger, is still discreet and delivers quicker focusing and greater image quality - plus a pop-up EVF that aids composing in bright environments.

Macro Photography

Both cameras offer roughly 5 cm minimum focus distance. The RX100 III’s sharper lens and brighter aperture produce crisper detail in macro shots, plus optical image stabilization helps maintain sharpness handheld.

Night and Astro Photography

Natural low-light performance is where the sensor size really shows off: the RX100 III holds details and suppresses noise effectively, the FH7 quickly becomes grainy and mushy beyond ISO 400.

Neither is ideal for advanced astrophotography, but the RX100 III’s manual exposure options and better high ISO make it the better choice.

Video Capabilities

Video remains a growing concern for many buyers.

The Panasonic FH7 tops out at 720p 30fps in Motion JPEG - quite basic, with no external mic or headphone jacks.

The RX100 III offers full HD 1080p recording at 60p, multiple codec options including AVCHD/XAVC S, and features optical image stabilization for smooth handheld footage. No microphone port limits audio control, but overall, the RX100 III produces far superior video quality.

Usability: Screen and Interface Experience

A camera's screen and ease of use can make or break the shooting experience.

The FH7 sports a fixed 3-inch touchscreen with limited 230k resolution - functional but soft and sometimes unresponsive.

The RX100 III, meanwhile, boasts a 3-inch tilting LCD with 1.2 million+ dots, sharp, bright, and flexible for high or low-angle shots. Though it lacks touchscreen, physical controls make menu navigation quick and intuitive.

The addition of the EVF on the RX100 III is a huge bonus for bright environments where LCD glare can impede framing.

Build and Reliability: How Tough Are These Cameras?

Neither model is fully weather sealed or ruggedized.

The RX100 III’s all-metal body contributes to a more durable feel, while the FH7’s plastic shell suits casual users but risks wear if treated roughly.

Battery life favors the RX100 III slightly (320 shots vs 260 for the FH7). Both use proprietary battery packs.

Storage-wise, both support SD cards; the RX100 III also supports Sony’s Memory Stick format, giving some extra flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras

The FH7 offers no wireless connectivity or GPS, limiting instant sharing.

The RX100 III features built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing seamless pairing with smartphones - great for travelers or social media photographers who want speedy uploads.

Breaking Down Lens and Zoom

The lens focal range on both cameras covers general everyday use:

• FH7: 28-112 mm equivalent (4x zoom), aperture f/3.1-6.5
• RX100 III: 24-70 mm equivalent (2.9x zoom), aperture f/1.8-2.8

The RX100 III’s wider aperture across the zoom range lets in substantially more light and creates more separation between subject and background. It’s also sharper edge-to-edge.

The FH7’s longer zoom can be handy sometimes, but the slower lens limits creative control, particularly in low light.

Value and Price-to-Performance

At launch, the FH7 retailed near $150, making it a budget-friendly point-and-shoot for casual shooters prioritizing simplicity.

The RX100 III, priced around $750, targets enthusiasts and professionals needing pocketable performance rivaling some DSLRs.

Figure this way: the RX100 III delivers about five times the image quality, far better controls, and much improved video - but at five times the cost.

Putting It All Together: Performance and Genre Scores

Looking at my comprehensive scoring:

• The Panasonic FH7 scores well on portability and ease of use.
• The Sony RX100 III dominates in portrait, landscape, sports, and low light categories.
• Both cameras score poorly for professional use and advanced wildlife work due to limitations in lens, sensor size, and AF system.

When Should You Buy the Panasonic FH7?

• You want a true pocket camera costing under $200.
• Your photography is casual - snapshots for family and travel day trips.
• You prioritize simplicity over manual controls or RAW shooting.
• Low-light and fast action are not your priority.
• You don’t need video beyond basic 720p clips.

This camera is a lightweight companion for simple point-and-shoot needs.

Why Choose the Sony RX100 III?

• You need higher image quality rivaling entry-level mirrorless cameras.
• You value manual control, fast and accurate focusing, and versatile zoom.
• You want excellent video in a truly pocketable form.
• You’re willing to invest more for a premium compact experience.
• You shoot diverse genres from portraits to landscapes, street to travel.

The RX100 III packs a reassuring toolkit for enthusiasts and pro second shooters.

Final Thoughts from My Experience

I’ve tested hundreds of compacts but few demonstrate the gulf between entry-level and premium as clearly as these two.

The Panasonic FH7 meets its intended role well - a simple, affordable camera for grab-and-go snapshots. Yet the compromises in sensor size, lens speed, and controls limit its creative potential.

The Sony RX100 III, meanwhile, is a mini marvel - balancing portability against performance, providing images that genuinely impress and video features that keep pace with many larger cameras.

If you’re on a strict budget and want point-and-shoot simplicity, the FH7 is not a bad pick. But if you care about serious image quality, versatile controls, and future-proofing your creative toolkit, the RX100 III is worth the investment.

Gallery: Sample Images Side-by-Side

Panasonic FH7 front Panasonic FH7 screen back Sony RX100 III front Sony RX100 III screen back

Here you can see portraits shot with shallow depth of field on the RX100 III versus more restrained FH7 results, landscapes showing the RX100’s superior dynamic range, and low light scenes demonstrating noise control differences.

Choosing your next compact camera is about matching priorities. Hopefully, this detailed, hands-on comparison helps you navigate between “grab it and forget it” simplicity and a versatile powerhouse in your pocket.

Whatever your pick, happy shooting!