Panasonic Lumix FH8 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX350: A Thorough Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera is often a balancing act between features, performance, and budget. Today, I’m diving deep into a comparison between two compact cameras from Panasonic and Sony that, while sharing the small sensor compact category, cater to distinct styles of photography. On one hand, we have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 (FH8), a straightforward point-and-shoot aimed at casual shooters, and on the other, the more ambitious Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350 (HX350), a bridge-style superzoom designed to tackle a wider range of photographic scenarios.

Having extensively tested both cameras, and thousands more like them, I’m here to guide you through their real-world performance, technical nuances, and value propositions - all with an eye toward practical use rather than buzzwords or spec sheet hype.

Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics & Build Quality

At a glance, these cameras couldn’t be more different in their physical designs.

The Panasonic FH8 is a quintessential ultra-compact, weighing only 123 grams and measuring a slender 96 x 57 x 19 mm. It’s pocketable, ultra-light, and built primarily from plastic. Its diminutive size makes it perfect for casual snapshots or travel where a bulky camera is a burden.

The Sony HX350, however, is in another league physically - more than five times heavier at 652 grams and shaped like a miniature DSLR with a pronounced grip, articulating screen, and a 130 x 93 x 103 mm frame. This size accommodates a substantially larger zoom range and more extensive controls but sacrifices discreetness and portability.

Ergonomically, I found the HX350 in my hand felt secure and balanced, especially with heavier lenses or prolonged shooting. The deep grip and large shutter button with zoom toggle are well positioned for stability. Meanwhile, the FH8’s tiny body lacks manual control dials and grips - it’s designed for “point-and-shoot” ease, sacrificing deeper handling comfort and customization.

If you prioritize carrying something that slips in your jeans pocket and weighs almost nothing, the FH8 wins. But if you want a solid, substantial camera that feels like a professional tool without the bulk of an interchangeable-lens system, the HX350 is your pick.

Understanding Sensor Technology & Image Quality

A major factor shaping image quality for both models is the small 1/2.3” sensor size, common in compact cameras.

The FH8 uses an older CCD sensor with 16 megapixels, while the HX350 boasts a more modern backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor at 20 megapixels. BSI-CMOS sensors typically outperform CCDs in dynamic range and noise control, especially in low light.

I tested both cameras in controlled studio conditions and everyday shooting to evaluate sharpness, noise, and color reproduction. The HX350 produced noticeably cleaner images at higher ISOs, thanks to its advanced sensor and processor (Sony’s BIONZ X). The FH8’s images showed more grain beyond ISO 400 and suffered from limited dynamic range - shadows quickly lost detail in challenging light.

In daylight, both cameras did a passable job, but the Sony yielded crisper edges and better detail owing to its higher resolution. Color rendering was decent on both, though the HX350 delivered richer, more natural skin tones - a vital consideration for portrait photographers.

However, noise aside, neither camera supports RAW capture, limiting post-processing flexibility - a downside for enthusiasts and pros used to harnessing RAW’s potential. That said, the HX350’s advanced JPEG engine compensates somewhat with excellent in-camera processing.

Control Layout & User Interface: How They Feel to Use

Let’s talk about the user experience - how intuitive are these cameras when shooting?

The FH8’s control scheme is minimal, with a fixed LCD screen, no electronic viewfinder (EVF), and only basic shooting settings available. It lacks manual exposure modes - no shutter or aperture priority. Essentially, you’re relying on automatic and scene modes, with limited exposure compensation or focus area selection. This simplification suits beginners but frustrates experienced users wanting creative control.

In contrast, the HX350 offers a robust complement of manual controls: shutter, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes, as well as spot metering, exposure compensation, and selective autofocus areas. You also get a tilting 3-inch LCD that makes compositions flexible, plus a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) for sharp framing even in bright sun.

I found the HX350 a joy to operate, especially when adjusting parameters on the fly. The FH8, while straightforward, felt underpowered - no focus peaking or customizable buttons, which can hamper creative workflows.

The HX350 also includes continuous shooting at 10 fps, great for action, while the FH8 can only manage 1 fps, essentially limiting its ability to capture fast moments reliably.

Autofocus Systems & Performance

Now, autofocus - an area where the demands vary wildly depending on your photography genre.

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus, common in small sensor compacts, without phase-detection or hybrid AF systems.

The FH8 offers 23 autofocus points and face detection. However, the system feels rather slow and cautious, often hunting noticeably before locking focus - especially in low contrast or dimly lit scenarios.

The HX350 improves upon that with wider AF point coverage, selective AF areas, and faster AF acquisition in daylight. It also features face detection and continuous AF. While still slower than interchangeable-lens mirrorless or DSLR autofocus, the HX350 can adequately track subjects in moderate sports or wildlife situations, especially with its 50x zoom lens, where a fast-focusing lens is a boon.

That said, neither camera supports advanced features like animal eye autofocus or deep tracking seen in newer models, which can limit wildlife or sports photography ambitions.

Lens & Zoom Capabilities: The Stretch Factor

Lens versatility is a crucial usability factor, especially for travel and wildlife shooters.

The FH8 sports a fixed 24-120mm equiv. (5x zoom) f/2.5-6.4 lens, which covers wide-angle to moderate telephoto. The lens is compact but somewhat limiting if you want significant reach. Optical image stabilization helps at longer focal lengths, but the slower maximum aperture at the tele end (f/6.4) restricts low light performance.

The HX350 crushes that with a superzoom 24-1200mm equiv. (50x zoom) f/2.8-6.3 lens - literally extending your reach into wildlife or distant sports territory. The lens is impressively sharp for its range, especially in the 24-400mm zone, though diffraction and softness creep in at extreme telephoto. The variable aperture is typical for superzooms, with bright f/2.8 at wide but dark f/6.3 at max zoom.

This extended reach hugely expands photographic possibilities, letting you capture everything from landscapes to distant wildlife without carrying multiple lenses. The built-in optical stabilization system keeps shots steady at long zooms, a big advantage.

If you frequently shoot distant subjects or want one camera that covers many focal lengths, the Sony HX350 clearly pulls ahead.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shots

A good screen and viewfinder can vastly improve shooting ergonomics and precision.

The FH8 offers a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 230k dots - serviceable, but on the dimmer side and poor resolution. No touchscreen capability means slower menu navigation. Its lack of any viewfinder means shooting in bright sunlight can be challenging, forcing squinting at the rear screen.

The HX350 sports a better tilting LCD with 922k dots, aiding compositions from high or low angles. More notably, it includes a 202k dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage, providing clearer framing and stability in bright outdoor conditions - a major assist during wildlife or sports shoots.

If you shoot primarily outdoors or need accurate framing in bright light, the HX350’s EVF is a big plus that the FH8 lacks.

Battery Life & Storage Considerations

Battery endurance can make or break usability during long outings.

The FH8 claims roughly 260 shots per charge, while the HX350 boasts 300 shots. In real-world use, these figures hold up roughly. The HX350’s larger capacity aligns with its bigger size and more powerful processor, but both cameras will benefit from spare batteries for extended trips.

Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; the HX350 also supports Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Duo, which is a minor bonus if you have existing accessories.

Overall, neither camera is impressive regarding battery life by today’s standards but adequate for casual shooting.

Connectivity & Video Capabilities

If video or wireless sharing are priorities, it’s important to note what each camera offers.

Neither camera includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS - not unexpected for their categories and age. You’ll have to transfer images via USB 2.0 or card readers.

On video, the FH8 shoots modestly at 1280 x 720p at 30 fps, using the MPEG-4 format. It lacks microphone input or advanced video features, making it a basic video shooter.

The HX350 is more capable, recording Full HD 1080p at 60i/60p in MPEG-4 or AVCHD formats. It offers more exposure and focus control during video, but no microphone or headphone jacks, which limits professional audio setups.

Neither camera supports 4K or higher frame rates.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Where Do They Excel?

How do these cameras perform for various photography types? I’ve analyzed their suitability based on practical field tests.

Portraits

• Panasonic FH8: Basic face detection helps, but limited manual controls and slower autofocus reduce portrait possibilities. Its CCD sensor yields average skin tones but lacks refinement.
• Sony HX350: Better autofocus and exposure controls deliver improved skin tones and selective focusing, though bokeh quality is understandably limited by small sensor size.

Recommendation: For casual portraits, FH8 suffices. Serious portrait enthusiasts will prefer HX350 but should consider larger sensor cameras for ultimate quality.

Landscapes

• Both offer wide-angle starts at 24mm equivalent.
• The HX350’s higher resolution sensor and extended capabilities in manual controls deliver notably superior landscape photos with better detail and dynamic range.
• Neither camera is weather-sealed, so cautious usage outdoors is necessary.

Wildlife

• The FH8’s reach is limited to 120mm equiv. - good for birds at close range but not much else.
• The HX350’s 1200mm equiv. superzoom and faster AF make it well-suited to casual wildlife photography.
• Neither has advanced tracking or animal eye AF.

Sports

• The FH8’s 1 fps burst rate and sluggish AF are ill-suited for action.
• The HX350’s 10 fps burst and faster AF improve responsiveness but still aren’t up to professional standards.

Street Photography

• The FH8’s compactness and quiet operation (no loud lens zoom or shutter noise) make it ideal for discreet street shooting.
• The HX350, while more versatile, is conspicuous and less portable.

Macro

• The FH8 offers a 4cm macro minimum focus distance.
• The HX350 impressively focuses down to 1cm at macro, enabling greater magnification and creativity.
• Neither has focus stacking or post-focus features.

Night & Astro

• Both struggle due to small sensor sizes.
• The HX350’s better high ISO handling yields less noise beyond ISO 800.
• No specialized astro modes present.

Video

• The HX350 offers solid Full HD at 60 fps and richer codec choices.
• FH8 is limited to 720p 30 fps, best for casual clips.

Travel

• FH8 wins for packing light and slim profile.
• HX350 is heavy but replaces multiple lenses, offering versatility.

Professional Workflow

• Both cameras lack RAW support and advanced tethering, limiting professional use.
• The HX350 manually focuses better and allows more exposure options, aiding workflow flexibility somewhat.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Buy the Panasonic Lumix FH8?

If you want the simplest, smallest, and most affordable camera for casual, everyday photography - snapshots, family events, travel moments where size and ease-of-use trump everything - the FH8 is a reliable companion. Its optical stabilization helps in low light, and its basic AF with face detection simplifies operation for beginners.

Just temper your expectations: image quality and manual control options are very limited. Try it if you want a camera to slip in your pocket and capture decent photos without fuss or learning curve.

Who Should Consider the Sony Cyber-shot HX350?

The HX350 is for enthusiasts who desire a versatile all-in-one camera without investing in interchangeable lenses, but who want manual controls, long zoom reach, and better image quality. Wildlife hobbyists, travel photographers needing telephoto capabilities, and those wanting advanced exposure tools will appreciate the HX350’s features.

Its size and weight are downsides if you want ultimate portability, but the zoom range and respectable autofocus speed offer flexibility rare in this price bracket. It’s also more capable for video work compared to the FH8.

Final Thoughts: Practical Buying Advice

Between these two Panasonic and Sony cameras, my experience tells me the choice boils down to your priorities:

• Go with the Panasonic FH8 if your budget is tight, you want the lightest, simplest camera, and you prioritize portability over zoom and control.
• Opt for the Sony HX350 if you want greater creative freedom, need a superzoom lens, and expect better image quality for diverse photography situations.

Neither camera rivals larger sensor mirrorless or DSLR systems in quality or speed, so if your aim is professional-grade output or demanding action shooting, these serve more as capable compacts or bridge cameras.

Whatever your choice, understanding their real-world behavior, strengths, and limitations will help ensure your investment suits your photographic aspirations. Hope this hands-on comparison makes your decision a bit easier.

Panasonic FH8 front Panasonic FH8 screen back Sony HX350 front Sony HX350 screen back

If you’d like to see side-by-side image comparisons or daily shooting test videos, feel free to reach out or check my detailed review archives where I dissect image quality, zoom performance, and autofocus real-time.

Happy shooting!