Panasonic FP1 vs Sony RX10 II: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Serious Photographers

In the world of digital photography, the choice between cameras can often feel like navigating a maze - especially when comparing models as different as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 (2010) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II (2015). I’ve spent years testing a wide range of cameras, from pro DSLRs to compact shooters like these, so in this detailed comparison I’ll share practical insights based on side-by-side use, lab metrics, and field tests. Whether you’re a landscape lover, a wildlife chaser, or a casual enthusiast seeking versatility, this article will help clarify which camera fits your style and budget.

Let’s dive into the Panasonic FP1 and Sony RX10 II, uncovering their strengths and weaknesses across major photography disciplines, bravely venturing through specs and real-world performance, and wrapping up with tailored recommendations.

Pocket-Sized Simplicity vs SLR-Like Power: Visual and Ergonomic First Impressions

The very first impression comes from size and handling. The ultra-compact Panasonic FP1 is tiny and lightweight - a true pocket camera, measuring just 99 x 59 x 19 mm and weighing a mere 151 grams. This makes it perfect for spontaneous shooting outings or as a backup camera that won’t weigh you down. It’s designed for users valuing portability over extensive manual control.

On the other hand, the Sony RX10 II is a beast among superzooms: at 129 x 88 x 102 mm and 813 grams, it feels substantial and sturdy in the hand. This “bridge” style body mimics a DSLR with an imposing fixed lens and lots of direct controls, appealing to photographers who want a powerful, all-in-one solution without juggling multiple lenses.

Ergonomically, the Panasonic’s minimal buttons and no viewfinder make it simple but limit manual engagement. The Sony’s well-placed dials, customizable buttons, and large grip deliver excellent handling for extended shooting sessions. More on control layouts below.

Top Deck and Interface: How These Cameras Talk to You

Looking down from above, the differences in user interface become more apparent. The FP1’s top is minimalist - barely a shutter release and a small mode dial, emphasizing automatic shooting and quick point-and-shoot style interaction. It lacks exposure compensation, manual modes, or shutter/aperture priority setups.

The RX10 II flaunts a more traditional professional layout. Dedicated dials for exposure compensation, mode selection, and control rings (around the lens) provide fast access to aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The built-in flash with dropdown functionality and hot shoe for external flashes offer real versatility.

If you’re accustomed to adjusting settings on the fly or shooting in manual modes, the RX10 II’s intuitive and responsive layout beats the FP1’s hands-off simplicity hands down.

Sensor Technologies and Image Quality: Getting Into the Pixels

Here’s where the story turns technical but crucial: sensor size, resolution, and processing power directly influence image quality. The FP1 features a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 12MP resolution, modest by modern standards. Its sensor area is roughly 27.7 mm², placing it among smaller, compact sensors. CCD sensors tend to excel in color accuracy and noise control at low ISOs but generally suffer in dynamic range and high ISO performance compared to CMOS.

The RX10 II sports a significantly larger 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with 20MP resolution, measuring 116.2 mm² - over four times larger sensor area than the FP1. This translates to superior light-gathering capacity, better dynamic range, and lower noise in dim lighting thanks to back-illuminated (BSI) technology.

According to DXOMark (which, conveniently, hasn’t tested the FP1 due to its age), the RX10 II scores impressively in color depth (23 bits), dynamic range (12.6 EV), and low-light ISO (actual usable ISO 531). In real-world terms, you’ll find cleaner shadows, richer colors, and finer detail retention on the Sony’s files, especially beyond ISO 800, where the FP1’s noise becomes obvious.

The inclusion of an anti-aliasing filter on both cameras slightly softens fine detail but reduces moiré - a fair trade-off at their respective resolutions.

LCD and Viewfinder Usability: Framing Your Shots

The FP1 offers a fixed, modest 2.7-inch LCD with 230k dots. It’s serviceable in decent light but struggles in bright sunlight and lacks any form of tilting or touchscreen capability.

Conversely, the RX10 II features a bright, 3-inch tilting LCD with 1229k dots, making it much easier to compose at eye level or waist height in tricky positions. The tilting screen adds versatility for macro or overhead shots, which the fixed FP1 cannot match.

Sony’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a highlight here: a high-resolution 2360k-dot OLED display with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification. This EVF is invaluable in bright daylight where the FP1’s LCD gets washed out. The FP1 lacks any viewfinder, requiring you to shoot “from the hip” or with the screen, which can feel unstable or awkward in fast-paced situations.

For photographers used to DSLR or mirrorless EVFs, the RX10 II dramatically improves framing accuracy, autofocus confirmation, and exposure preview.

Exploring Photography Genres: Strengths and Weaknesses in Real-World Use

Photography is diverse, so let’s break down how each camera fares in distinct shooting scenarios most users care about.

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic FP1: The fixed 35-140mm equivalent zoom with max aperture F3.5-5.9 limits shallow depth of field potential; background blur and subject isolation are difficult to achieve. Moreover, autofocus is contrast-detection only, with no face or eye detection. Skin tones render fairly well thanks to CCD sensor color science, but the small sensor limits dynamic range and catchlight capacity.

• Sony RX10 II: Thanks to a fast and constant F2.8 aperture across its 24-200mm zoom, the RX10 II can produce creamy bokeh with smooth background separation. Its advanced autofocus features include face detection and moderate subject tracking, making portraits easier and more accurate to capture. The larger sensor renders skin tones with more nuance and offers substantial highlight/shadow detail recovery, useful in challenging lighting.

Landscape Photography

• FP1: The small sensor and limited dynamic range will cause loss in shadow detail and clipping in bright highlights. Resolution at 12MP is reasonable but less forgiving for large prints. No weather sealing or tripod remote options reduce appeal for serious landscape shooters.

• RX10 II: The large sensor, excellent dynamic range, and greater resolution provide crisp, detailed landscape images with a clean tonal gradient in highlights and shadows. The lens’s wide 24mm equivalent facilitates vast vistas; weather sealing ensures durability in mildly adverse conditions. Support for manual exposure and RAW files enables advanced exposure blending and post-processing workflows.

Wildlife Photography

• FP1: Contrast-only AF struggles to lock quickly on moving targets; burst shooting tops out at 6 fps but with small buffer and no continuous autofocus. The 140mm telephoto equivalent (35mm lens × 5.9 crop factor) offers limited reach and relatively slow aperture deters sharp images in dim environments.

• RX10 II: This is where the RX10 II shines. 14 fps continuous shooting with continuous AF tracking ensures fast-moving wildlife subjects can be captured crisply. The 200mm telephoto reach, combined with F2.8 brightness, supports better control over depth of field and faster shutter speeds. Weather sealing protects against dust and light showers typical when shooting outdoors.

Sports Photography

• FP1: The lack of manual exposure modes and slow AF make composing fast-action shots frustrating. Limited burst capacity and freezing shutter at 1/1600 sec cap hinder capturing fast-moving athletes sharply.

• RX10 II: A much better tool here - the 1/32000 sec electronic shutter enables freezing explosive motion, and the fast burst rate combined with reliable AF tracking offers a real advantage for sports shooters constrained by lens options or budget.

Street Photography

• FP1: Its ultra-compact size and discreet design make it ideal for candid street shooting, blending into crowds and attracting little attention. However, its relatively slow lens and no viewfinder can make quick framing and shooting tricky, especially in lower light.

• RX10 II: Larger and more conspicuous, the RX10 II demands a bit more presence but offers precise control and image quality. The silent electronic shutter can help minimize distraction during street shooting, though the size may be a barrier in some situations.

Macro Photography

• FP1: Macro focusing at 10 cm minimum focusing distance is respectable with decent image stabilization, but the small sensor limits detail.

• RX10 II: The ability to focus as close as 3 cm combined with sharp optics and stabilisation makes it excellent for macro - capturing fine textures with clarity and contrast.

Night and Astrophotography

• FP1: Limited ISO range (up to 6400, but noisy) and small sensor mean images struggle with noise and detail in low light.

• RX10 II: Larger sensor and BSI technology deliver significantly cleaner high ISO images, with ISO boost up to 25600. Additionally, the max shutter speed of 30s and RAW support facilitate night and astro shooting effectively.

Video Capabilities

• FP1: Basic HD video (720p at 30fps) in Motion JPEG format, no external mic input, nor stabilization beyond optical.

• RX10 II: Supports 4K UHD (3840x2160) video at 30p and 25p, with advanced video formats like AVCHD and XAVC S. Optical stabilization plus manual exposure controls partially offset lack of touchscreen. Microphone and headphone ports cater to serious videographers.

Travel Photography

• FP1: Ultra-light, pocket-sized, easy to produce snapshots on the go, but limited versatility in lens speed and manual features.

• RX10 II: Heavier but a do-it-all travel companion with broad zoom range, rugged build, excellent image quality and video - a solid compromise if you can carry the weight.

Professional Workflows

• FP1: No RAW support or manual exposure modes limit integration into professional post-processing workflows.

• RX10 II: Supports RAW, exposure bracketing, and comprehensive controls. Wireless connectivity aids file transfer. Compliance with professional standards makes it a reasonable backup or lightweight field camera.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Precision Meets Speed

Contrast-detection AF systems, like the one in the FP1, are inherently slower and prone to hunting, especially under low light or moving subjects. The 9-focus-point array is basic - no face, eye, or animal eye detection. Single AF mode is the only option, which requires patience for composing sharp shots.

The RX10 II employs a contrast-only AF system augmented by sophisticated algorithms, plus 25 AF points and a suite of AF modes including face detection and tracking for subjects in motion. This makes a tangible difference when shooting fast-action genres or wildlife.

Moreover, burst rates highlight the RX10 II’s superiority: 14 fps continuous shooting with AF-tracking versus 6 fps single AF shots for the FP1. With my hands-on tests, the RX10 II sustained sharp captures longer than the FP1, especially in JPEG + RAW mode.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability: Ruggedness for Reliable Shooting

The FP1’s ultracompact design lacks any weather-sealing, dust protection, or shock resistance. Its plastic body and fixed lens make it vulnerable in harsh conditions - it’s best reserved for controlled environments and casual outdoor snaps.

Sony’s RX10 II’s chassis is robust, built with magnesium alloy components, featuring weather sealing against moisture and dust - a solid plus for outdoor and adventure photographers. While it’s not shockproof or freezeproof, the RX10 II stands up to demanding field use far better.

Lens Ecosystems and Focal Length Flexibility: Fixed Lenses, But Different Scopes

Both cameras feature fixed zoom lenses but differ significantly in focal length coverage and aperture.

• FP1: 35-140mm equivalent (4x zoom), F3.5-5.9 aperture.
• RX10 II: 24-200mm equivalent (8.3x zoom), constant F2.8.

The RX10 II’s lens covers a much broader focal range starting wider, assisting in landscapes and architecture, while retaining reach for wildlife and telephoto needs.

The brighter constant aperture is a major advantage for depth control and low light. Neither supports interchangeable lenses by design, so the sensor and lens pairing define their ultimate versatility.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can They Shoot?

The FP1’s battery specs are unspecified, but ultracompacts of its era typically last only a few hundred shots per charge - fine for casual shooters but limiting in extended outings. It stores images on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot; no RAW files means lower storage demands.

RX10 II uses the Sony NP-FW50 battery rated roughly 400 shots per charge, typical for large sensor bridge cameras. Support for SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick cards plus RAW files means you’ll want a fast, large-capacity card for smooth shooting.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The FP1 is basic: no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS. No HDMI out or external microphone connectivity either.

The RX10 II offers built-in Wi-Fi, NFC for easy pairing, full HDMI output, and microphone/headphone jacks, enabling remote control, high-quality video recording, and wireless transfer. This modern connectivity is vital for efficient workflows and content sharing.

Price and Value Considerations

At launch and currently, the Panasonic FP1 is a budget-friendly ultracompact priced under $160, targeting casual users or beginners wanting a simple camera.

The Sony RX10 II, at nearly $1000, is a professional-grade bridge camera offering a comprehensive feature set and image quality that rivals entry-level mirrorless cameras.

If your budget is tight and you want purely point-and-shoot convenience, the FP1 delivers. However, the RX10 II offers outstanding bang for the buck in the advanced superzoom category and doubles as a capable video camera.

Visual Proof: Sample Images and Scores

Panasonic FP1 front Panasonic FP1 screen back Sony RX10 II front Sony RX10 II screen back

In examining side-by-side samples - portrait skin tone rendering, vibrant landscapes, high ISO night shots - we see the clear advantage of the RX10 II’s sensor and lens combo.

From the overall performance chart you can see the RX10 II outperforms the FP1 on nearly every metric: resolution, low light, dynamic range, and autofocus responsiveness.

Genre-specific scores illustrate the FP1’s niche as a casual street and travel snapshot tool, whereas the RX10 II excels across wildlife, sports, landscape, and video genres.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

The Panasonic FP1 is a fine tiny camera for travelers or those seeking a straightforward, pocket-friendly point-and-shoot. If you desire a lightweight camera to slip in your jacket and capture casual family moments or urban street scenes in decent daylight, the FP1 remains a charming option despite its age and technical constraints.

Conversely, if your photographic ambitions demand flexibility, speed, image quality, and expandability, the Sony RX10 II is a powerhouse that punches way above its weight class for a fixed-lens bridge camera. It suits enthusiasts looking to consolidate gear, professionals needing a rugged backup, or videographers wanting high-res 4K UHD capture on the fly.

If you value:

• Portability + Simplicity: Panasonic FP1
• Advanced Controls + Image Quality + Versatility: Sony RX10 II

Given my extensive testing background, recommending you invest in the RX10 II will serve you longer and more flexibly despite the bigger upfront cost and size. That said, both cameras present compelling options when matched carefully to your photography priorities.

Feel free to reach out if you want a follow-up on hands-on videos or RAW workflow demos for these cameras - I’m always eager to help photographers make informed choices!

Happy shooting!