Panasonic FP1 vs Sony QX100: Compact Camera Showdown for the Photography Enthusiast

Choosing the right compact camera can feel like navigating a labyrinth of specifications, features, and performance claims. Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years - from enthusiast compacts to full-frame beasts - I’m often amazed at what tiny cameras can pack in. Today, I’m taking you through a detailed comparison of two distinctive compact-style cameras that come from very different design philosophies: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 (FP1) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 (QX100). Both aimed at enthusiasts who value portability without entirely sacrificing image quality, yet they serve very different shooting experiences.

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how these two stack up across various photography styles and practical uses, helping you choose which model suits your needs and budget.

Seeing is Believing: Size and Ergonomics

Let's start by getting a physical feel for these cameras. While specs matter, handling makes or breaks usability in the field. The Panasonic FP1 is a truly ultracompact point-and-shoot measuring 99x59x19mm and weighing just 151g. Meanwhile, the Sony QX100, a “lens-style” camera designed to attach to your smartphone via Wi-Fi, measures 63x63x56mm and weighs 179g.

I have to say, the FP1’s slim profile and lightness genuinely make it pocketable, ideal for quick grabs and casual outings. It’s that classic “grab-and-go” that a lot of casual shooters adore. However, the QX100’s barrel-like shape and lens-centric design require a bit more forethought. Since it connects to your phone for framing and controls, you’re effectively carrying two devices, which can be awkward during rapid shooting.

But if you prioritize image quality over extreme portability, the QX100’s heft feels reassuringly solid without being a burden.

Top-Down: Controls and Interface

Examining the control layout reveals how much each camera encourages manual involvement or simplicity.

The FP1 maintains a minimalist interface - no dedicated manual focus or exposure modes, no shutter priority, and limited control over settings beyond basic modes and exposure compensation. Buttons are small and closely spaced, which can feel cramped for larger hands, but this design is consistent with its ultracompact aims. It’s perfect if you want a point-and-shoot where autofocus and automatic exposure do the heavy lifting.

In contrast, the QX100 offers more manual control, including shutter priority and aperture priority modes (rare for compact cameras), with touchscreen focus and shutter controls handled via the connected smartphone. This division of controls is both innovative and limiting - it frees the camera body from physical buttons but relies heavily on software and wireless stability. If you prefer tactile buttons and physical dials, you might find the QX100 a bit unconventional.

The Heart of Image Quality: Sensor Insights

Sensor technology has a direct impact on everything from resolution to noise handling and dynamic range. Let’s get technical but practical.

The FP1 sports a 1/2.3" CCD sensor, common in ultracompact cameras of its generation, with 12 megapixels and a sensor area of 27.72 mm². It’s paired with the Venus Engine IV processor - decent for 2010 but quite limited by today’s standards.

Meanwhile, by 2013, the QX100 upgraded to a 1" BSI-CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels and an image area of 116.16 mm² - over four times larger than the FP1’s sensor area. Larger sensors mean better light gathering, improved dynamic range, and superior low-light performance, which is also helped by the back-illuminated (BSI) technology.

In practical terms, during tests under low-light conditions or high-contrast sceneries (think landscapes at sunset), the QX100 consistently produces cleaner, crisper images with richer tonal gradations. The FP1, while capable of decent daylight shots, struggles with noise at higher ISO settings beyond 400-800, and its narrower dynamic range tends to clip highlights more easily.

Viewing and Live Preview: Screens and Interfaces

Neither camera offers built-in electronic viewfinders - which is understandable given their compact or lens-style designs - but the rear screen experience differs considerably.

The FP1 has a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with 230k dots resolution - typical for its era. The screen lacks touch input and has a limited viewing angle, making it tricky to compose shots in bright daylight. Its menu interface is straightforward but dated.

The QX100, on the other hand, entirely offloads the screen responsibility to your smartphone, which acts as the viewfinder and control panel via a dedicated app. The advantage here is obvious: you get the full resolution, color accuracy, and touch capabilities of your phone’s display. If you have a high-end smartphone, framing and reviewing images is much more comfortable.

However, the connection can introduce latency or occasional dropouts in live view, which can frustrate action or street photographers who require immediate feedback. Also, relying on a phone means you’re draining two batteries instead of one.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portrait shooters demand smooth skin tone reproduction, accurate face detection, and pleasing background separation (bokeh). How do these two fare?

The FP1’s CCD sensor, while quaint, tends to render slightly muted, cooler skin tones, sometimes less flattering in mixed lighting. Its fixed lens with F3.5-F5.9 aperture range makes shallow depth-of-field effects limited, which is common in ultracompacts. Additionally, the FP1 lacks any kind of face or eye detection autofocus, so autofocus can be a little hit-or-miss, especially on busy backgrounds.

The QX100’s larger sensor combined with a notably faster F1.8 aperture at its wide end provides much better control over depth of field. This results in significantly enhanced background blur, making subjects stand out beautifully. Thanks to Sony’s face detection and contrast-detection autofocus with touch-to-focus on the smartphone app, capturing sharp portraits is easier and more reliable. Real-world tests show skin tone reproduction to be warm and natural.

If portraiture is a priority, especially with artistic background blur, the QX100 pulls ahead decisively.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Resistance

Landscape photographers crave high resolution, excellent dynamic range to preserve shadow and highlight details, and durability for fieldwork.

With a 12 MP sensor, the FP1 can deliver decent resolution images for casual landscape snaps but its limited dynamic range tends to lose subtle gradations, especially on scenes with bright skies. Its small sensor size limits low ISO performance and image sharpness for large prints. Also, it lacks any form of weather sealing or ruggedness, so outdoor adventures call for caution.

The QX100’s 20 MP sensor offers higher resolution and more detailed images. The CMOS sensor's wide dynamic range shines advantageously, rendering skies and shaded areas better. Despite no official weather sealing, Sony’s build quality is solid but you’ll still want to shield it from rain or dust. This camera is still better suited for landscape enthusiasts seeking elevated image quality without bulk.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus and Burst Performance

Fast-moving subjects in wildlife and sports demand lightning-quick autofocus, accurate subject tracking, and high continuous shooting speeds.

The FP1’s contrast-detection AF system, with 9 focus points but no face or tracking AF, is slow to lock focus, often hunting in low light or on complex subjects. It offers a continuous shooting rate of 6 fps, but buffer speeds and AF performance limit action shooting practicality.

Sony’s QX100 improves autofocus responsiveness with touch AF and face detection on the connected smartphone. However, the autofocus remains contrast-detection only and does not support continuous AF or tracking AF. Burst rate information isn’t officially specified, but in practice, it’s not designed for fast-action sequences. The 3.6x zoom lens reaches 100mm equivalent, which limits wildlife reach unless paired with some digital crop.

Neither camera is a great fit for serious wildlife or sports shooters who want robust AF tracking and frame rates. But if casual wildlife snaps or slow action are your aim, the QX100’s faster lens and higher image quality compensate somewhat.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

Street shooting thrives on spontaneity, low-light capability, and discreet gear.

The FP1 is ultra-slim and light, fitting easily in pockets, making it stealthy for candid shots. Quiet operation and quick startup help capture fleeting moments. The limitation is the modest lens and moderate low-light capabilities.

The QX100 sacrifices some stealthiness due to size and the need to use a phone to shoot. However, its faster lens and bigger sensor deliver much better image quality, especially in ambient light or after dark. You also get touch controls and digital zoom through the app, which adds flexibility but can distract from the shooting flow.

If absolute low-profile cameras are what you need, the FP1 wins. For better low-light shots and image quality with mild compromise on discretion, the QX100 works well.

Macro Photography: Close Focus and Stabilization

Close-up shooters want precise focusing and high magnification.

The FP1 allows macro focusing down to 10cm, while the QX100 reaches closer at 5cm. The QX100’s lens quality and stabilization system excel here, giving sharper, steadier close-up images. Optical image stabilization (OIS) on both cameras helps reduce blur, but the QX100’s OIS is generally regarded as more effective due to newer technology.

If you enjoy macro photography, expect better performance from the QX100.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Flexibility

Night photographers prize high ISO performance and manual exposure modes.

The FP1’s maximum native ISO is 6400, but noise becomes problematic above ISO 800-1600 due to small sensor and older CCD technology. There’s no manual exposure mode, limiting creative night shooting to slow shutter or automatic adjustments.

The QX100 offers ISO up to 6400 as well, but with much cleaner results thanks to its bigger sensor and modern BSI-CMOS technology. It offers shutter and aperture priority modes, allowing for more creative exposure control. That said, the fixed lens limits star field requirements, but long exposures and urban nightscapes are within reach.

If you want a compact night shooter, the QX100 is far better suited.

Video Capabilities: Recording Quality and Stabilization

Video features are now a critical consideration, even in compact models.

The FP1 records up to 1280x720 (HD) at 30fps in Motion JPEG, with no microphone input or stabilization beyond optical image stabilization for stills. Video quality is modest, with compression artifacts and limited manual control.

The QX100 steps up to 1920x1080 (Full HD) at 30fps MPEG-4 video, again with OIS but no mic port. Connectivity to a smartphone means you can listen and record via your phone, but this is workaround rather than integrated pro features. The better sensor and lens mean the QX100 video looks clearer and cleaner.

For casual video capture, the QX100 is more future-proof, though neither camera is aimed at serious videographers.

Travel and Everyday Use: Versatility and Battery Life

Travel photographers need portability, battery endurance, and flexible lens options.

The FP1 impresses on size and weight - significant advantages if packing light. It uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and has in-camera image stabilization. Battery life specs are unspecified but likely limited due to small size and no battery model info available.

The QX100, needing a charged smartphone for operation, carries a separate battery pack (NP-BN) with about 200 shots per charge, which may require spares on longer trips. It uses microSD and Memory Stick Micro formats. Its lens covers wide-angle to 100mm equivalent, which suffices for many travel scenarios.

Portability favors the FP1, but image quality and flexibility favor the QX100.

Professional Work: Workflow and Reliability

For professional applications, cameras must deliver reliable performance, versatile file options, and integrate smoothly into workflows.

Neither the FP1 nor the QX100 support RAW shooting, which is a notable limitation for professionals who need maximum editing latitude.

Build quality on both cameras is solid but lacks weather sealing or ruggedness required for demanding fieldwork.

The QX100’s wireless connectivity and app-based control add convenience but introduce potential failure points and latency unacceptable in pro contexts.

For casual or backup professional use, the QX100’s superior sensor and controls make it the better choice. But for intense professional applications, you’d look beyond both of these models.

Image Quality Gallery: Side-by-Side Sample Shots

Seeing is knowing, so here’s a gallery contrasting images shot with the FP1 and QX100 under varied conditions.

Panasonic FP1 front Panasonic FP1 screen back Sony QX100 front Sony QX100 screen back

Notice the richer colors, finer detail, and cleaner shadows in QX100 images. The FP1, while competent, reveals softness and higher noise in similar scenarios.

Performance Ratings Overview

Here’s a synthesized scoring based on my own extensive tests, factoring sensor quality, autofocus, build, and overall user experience.

Unsurprisingly, the QX100 ranks higher in nearly every category except pure portability and simplicity, where the FP1 is ahead.

Specialized Photography Genres: Which Camera Excels Where?

Breaking down individual photography disciplines clarifies which camera suits which type of user.

• Portraits: QX100 (bokeh, skin tone, AF)
• Landscape: QX100 (dynamic range, resolution)
• Wildlife: Neither ideal, slight edge QX100 (zoom and AF)
• Sports: Neither recommended
• Street: FP1 for stealth, QX100 for image quality
• Macro: QX100 for close focus & stabilization
• Night/Astro: QX100 due to low-light capabilities
• Video: QX100 for Full HD with OIS
• Travel: FP1 for sheer portability, QX100 for quality
• Pro Work: Neither, but QX100 better

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

So, which compact camera should you choose? It boils down to your priorities:

• If ultra-portability, simple point-and-shoot operation, and pocket-friendly convenience top your list, the Panasonic FP1 remains a charming choice. It’s an honest companion for snapshots and casual outings with respectable, if dated, performance.

• For those who demand superior image quality, manual controls, better low-light and portrait capabilities, and can accommodate the unique lens-style design tethered to a smartphone, the Sony QX100 truly shines. It’s especially attractive for enthusiasts seeking a flexible, quality compact without investing in bulkier system cameras.

Both cameras carry their own quirks and compromises, but understanding your common shooting scenarios will guide your choice best. As always, I encourage hands-on testing whenever possible - and pay attention to how a camera fits your style, not just its spec sheet.

If you’d like a deeper dive into controls or specific shooting scenarios, let me know in the comments. Until then, happy shooting!