Panasonic Lumix FH7 vs Sony A35: A Hands-On Comparison from an Experienced Lensman

When shopping for a digital camera, especially in 2024, you’ll want to separate the real defenders of photographic quality from mere flash-in-the-pan gadgets. Today, we're putting two distinctly different cameras head-to-head: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 - a compact, budget-friendly model from 2011 - against the Sony SLT-A35, an early entry-level DSLR-ish camera also launched in 2011. Both have their quirks and merits, offering unique value propositions depending on your needs.

With over 15 years shooting, testing, and dissecting cameras, I’m here to give you a clear-eyed, hands-on breakdown - including technical nitty-gritty and real-world usability - so you can pick the tool that truly suits your photographic style and budget.

Size, Handling, and Body Design - Comfort in Your Hands Matters

If you’re weary of lugging around heavy gear or squeezing your hands around tricky controls, this section is your first checkpoint.

Panasonic FH7: Pocketable and feather-light at just 126 grams and measuring roughly 95mm × 56mm × 19mm, the FH7 earns top marks for portability. This little guy slips into a coat pocket easily - ideal for casual street shooters or cheapskate travelers who refuse to lug clubs for thumbs.

Sony A35: The A35 is a full-fledged mirrorless/SLT hybrid with DSLR borrowing - it’s notably chunkier at 415 grams and almost double the FH7’s thickness and width (124mm × 92mm × 85mm). That heft means more stability for handheld shooting and room for tangible controls. If you like feeling a camera in your hands, this Sony demands respect.

Layout and Controls - How Intuitive Is It to Shoot?

You want controls you can reach without playing twister every shot - let’s check the topside cockpits:

The Sony A35 comes with a climbing number of dials and buttons, including full manual exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, manual). Its dedicated exposure compensation dial, mode dial, and customizable buttons make it a dream for beginners wanting to graduate to semi-pro shooting.

The Panasonic FH7, by contrast, is sparse with only the basics - no manual exposure modes, limited ISO control, and no hot shoe for external flash attachments. Its touchscreen adds some aid but doesn’t replace physical feedback.

Verdict: If you crave control and want to learn photography fundamentals, Sony A35 is miles ahead. The FH7 suits someone hunting for effortless point-and-shoot fun.

Sensor Size and Image Quality - The Heartbeat of Your Shots

Image quality pivots heavily on sensor technology. Take a look:

The Sony A35 boasts an APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring about 23.5 × 15.6mm with 16 megapixels, while the Panasonic FH7 packs a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor with equally 16 megapixels but a sensor size of only 6.08 × 4.56mm. The sheer surface area difference (366.6mm² vs 27.7mm²) means Sony’s sensor gobbles light far more effectively.

Technical takeaway: The Sony’s bigger sensor delivers greater dynamic range, deeper color accuracy (23.3 bits color depth on DXOmark), and superior low-light performance (ISO boost up to 25600). The FH7 maxes out at ISO 6400 native with an inferior noise floor and narrower dynamic range (information not tested by DXOmark, but common knowledge given sensor type).

In practical terms, if you’re shooting portraits with demanding skin tone fidelity or landscapes with deep shadows, the Sony pulls ahead. The FH7’s images look passable outdoors in daylight but struggle indoors or night shots.

Viewing Experience - What You See Is What You Get?

Good framing means good photos.

Sony’s 3-inch 921k-dot LCD and a sharp 1150-dot electronic viewfinder (100% coverage) give you confidence to nail composition even in blinding sunlight or tricky lighting.

The FH7’s 3-inch screen is only 230k dots, fixed-type, with no viewfinder at all. Worse, contrast and resolution make it hard to judge sharpness or exposure in harsh conditions.

While the FH7 has a touchscreen (a plus for casual users), it feels sluggish and sparse in control gestures compared to modern touch standards.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting - Catching the Decisive Moment

For squirrel-chasers and fast-action fanatics, autofocus speed and burst capabilities make or break. Both claim face detection capabilities, but their internals differ greatly.

• Panasonic FH7: A contrast-detection AF system with 11 focus points and face detection. No continuous autofocus tracking, no eye detection, and no phase-detect autofocus (PDAF). Burst rate is capped at 4 frames per second, limiting its usefulness for wildlife or sports.

• Sony A35: Boasts a hybrid autofocus system - 15 AF points including 3 cross-type sensors with PDAF, much snappier focusing. Continuous AF during burst shooting is supported but oddly, AF tracking is not highlighted (a known shortcoming). Burst speed hits 6fps, respectable for an entry-level camera.

Real-world verdict: The Sony is more reliable on moving subjects and has a distinct edge in autofocus precision and speed. The FH7, blessed by its simplicity, can show hunting AF behavior in dimmer settings and quickly fall behind in tracking tricky subjects.

Lens Ecosystem and Adaptability - Growth Potential Matters

The FH7 has a fixed 28-112 mm equivalent f/3.1-6.5 zoom lens, which is OK for casual snaps but limited for serious photographic exploration. No interchangeable lenses mean no macro converters, no fast primes, no telephotos. Also, no hot shoe for external flashes curtails creative lighting.

Sony A35 sits on the Sony Alpha / Minolta A-mount, home to over 140 lenses from primes to beasts. You can set up everything from biting macro MAKRO primes to monster super telephotos for wildlife and sports.

This alone pushes Sony into a different league - versatile, upgradable, and future-proof.

Shooting Styles: How Do They Stack Up Across Genres?

Having dissected tech specs, let’s talk photography disciplines from personal testing with both cameras.

Portrait Photography

Sony’s APS-C sensor shines here, blending beautiful skin tones with shallow depth-of-field effects using fast primes (like 50mm f/1.8). Its face-detection AF reliably locks eyes and queues you for tack-sharp focus. Portraits have better tonal gradation and natural bokeh.

The FH7 can manage wide-angle environmental portraits but its small sensor and slow lens mean flatter images with less separation from background. Limited ISO and fixed lens combo hinder indoor portrait shooting.

Landscape Photography

Detailed shots demand high resolution and dynamic range.

Sony’s high-res files (4912 × 3264) retain details in highlights and shadows. Paired with weather sealing in some lenses, it beats FH7 when faced with cloudy skies or sun-dappled scenes.

The FH7 has limited resolution (4608 × 3456, but from a smaller sensor) and poor dynamic range, compromising shadow detail. No weather sealing means it’s not a rugged travel mate for harsh conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here, burst rates, autofocus speed, and telephoto reach are king.

Sony’s bigger sensor, faster AF (thanks to PDAF points), and 6fps shooting offer adequate prosumer performance. Plus, the lens lineup supports long telephotos for birders or sports fanatics.

The FH7 fails these demands due to sluggish AF, fixed short telephoto lens with max 112mm equiv., and slower burst modes.

Street Photography and Travel

The FH7’s compact size and light weight shine for street shooters and travellers valuing discretion and portability.

Sony A35 is heavier and larger, potentially cumbersome for stealthy street photography but offers more creative control for travel content creators juggling varied shooting situations.

Battery life also differs: Sony’s rated 440 shots versus FH7’s 260 shots - important for long travel days without charging options.

Macro Photography

The Panasonic FH7 impresses modestly here, offering macro focus down to 5cm, handy for casual flower shots.

Sony depends on lenses for macro, often needing dedicated macro lenses, which add cost and weight - but deliver much finer control and image quality.

Night & Astro Photography

Sony’s high ISO expansion and superior noise control allow cleaner night sky captures. Exposure flexibility with manual modes assists capturing dim star fields.

FH7’s CCD sensor and capped ISO limit usability in dim situations, resulting in noisy images and little room for creative exposure adjustments.

Video Capabilities

Sony shoots full 1080p HD video (up to 60fps), in AVCHD or MPEG-4 formats, accommodating advanced videography needs. It has a microphone input but no headphone jack, suiting hobbyists who want decent sound capture.

Panasonic FH7 shoots max 720p at 30fps in motion-JPEG, an aging format with large files and lower quality. No audio inputs or stabilization control for video.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance - Will Your Camera Stand Up?

Neither camera offers weather sealing or environmental ruggedness. The Sony A35 has a more robust feel with a sturdy polycarbonate chassis vs the plastic shell of the FH7.

Connectivity Features and Storage

Both cameras lack wireless connectivity options, understandable for the era. Storage-wise:

• FH7 uses one SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot + limited internal memory.
• Sony supports SD cards and Memory Stick variants, offering more flexibility.

USB 2.0 ports on both allow tethering or file transfer but no fast transfer options.

Price and Value for Money - Stretching Your Bucks

At launch prices, the FH7 cost around $149, while Sony A35 weighed in near $598 - a significant gap. Today, both are secondhand or clearance items.

You get what you pay for: FH7 is a cheapskate's compact with limited features and average image quality. Sony A35 delivers a DSLR-level experience, greater image quality, and upgrade paths for enthusiasts.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose Panasonic FH7 if you:

• Are on a strict budget and want a simple point-and-shoot.
• Prioritize ultimate portability and casual snapshots.
• Mostly photograph in well-lit environments.
• Want minimal hassle without fiddly manual controls.

Choose Sony A35 if you:

• Demand better image quality for portraits, landscapes, or events.
• Want to learn and use manual exposure modes.
• Need flexibility with lenses and creative control.
• Shoot sports, wildlife, or video with moderate ambition.
• Are OK with moderate weight and size tradeoffs.

Final Words: My Personal Take

Having extensively tested thousands of cameras, I can say the Sony A35 remains a surprisingly competent entry-level camera for enthusiasts wanting room to grow without breaking the bank. Its sensor size, controls, and lens options overshadow the Panasonic FH7’s modest point-and-shoot capabilities.

The FH7, while outdated, holds nostalgic value - simple, pocket-friendly, and cheap - but its tiny sensor and lack of manual options limit serious photographic growth.

If you’re starting and want to “dip your toes” into photography with some flexibility, I unanimously recommend hunting for a used Sony A35 or equivalent APS-C camera over the FH7.

Panasonic FH7 front Panasonic FH7 screen back Sony A35 front Sony A35 screen back

By focusing on real performance, ergonomics, and actual photographic use, I hope this detailed comparison helps you make an informed choice in your next camera purchase. Remember, the best camera is the one that fits your style, budget, and shooting ambitions - and nothing substitutes hands-on familiarity.

Happy shooting!