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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Lens-style by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is fairly similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FH8 was unveiled 3 years before the QX30 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the FH8 matches up vs the QX30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony QX30

 FH8 QX30 
Display sizing3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution230k0kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Panasonic FH8

 QX30 FH8 
LaunchedSeptember 2014January 2012Fresher by 32 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony QX30

 FH8 QX30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FH8 enjoys external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the FH8 vs the QX30.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and QX30 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over specifications. The visual here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FH8 and QX30.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony QX30 to offer greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The older FH8 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (16MP)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
38
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH8
Street photography with Sony QX30
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (123 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
62
image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH8
Sports photography with Sony QX30
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography features
Sony QX30 Travel photography features
69
lighter than others (123 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
65
provides touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography factors
Sony QX30 Landscape photography factors
43
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (")
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
Vlogging with Sony QX30
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
lighter than others (123 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony QX30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Launched 2012-01-09 2014-09-03
Physical type Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.5-6.4 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches -
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction None
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 123g (0.27 lb) 193g (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 shots 200 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $149 $348