From Pocketable Convenience to Pro-Level Power: Comparing the Panasonic FP2 and Samsung NX1

When it comes to choosing a camera, size and convenience often clash with features and image quality. Today, I’m diving deep into two wildly different beasts in the photography jungle: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 (FP2) - an ultracompact point-and-shoot announced way back in 2010 - and Samsung’s powerhouse mirrorless NX1, launched in 2014 targeting professional and advanced enthusiasts alike. Both cameras appeal to very different photographers, but they also reflect fascinating eras of camera technology evolution.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras across genres, I’ll walk you through how these two compare - from sensors to ergonomics, autofocus to video, and everything in between. Whether you’re a budget-conscious street photographer eyeing portability, a content creator hunting for pro features, or just a camera gear geek curious about the contrast, this comprehensive side-by-side will arm you with practical insights not often found in headline specs.

Let’s jump in and settle the score between the pint-sized Panasonic FP2 and the serious Samsung NX1.

Size Matters? Comparing Physical Dimensions and Handling

The Panasonic FP2’s key selling point is indisputably its tiny size and lightweight body - designed literally to fit in the smallest of pockets and always be there when inspiration strikes. It weighs just 151 grams with dimensions roughly 99x59x19 mm. On the other hand, the Samsung NX1 weighs in at a substantive 550 grams with a chunky 139x102x66 mm frame reflecting its SLR-style mirrorless body.

Handling the FP2 feels like carrying barely anything, almost like your smartphone - perfect for street photographers, travelers, and casual shooters who prioritize discretion and convenience. However, this small size comes at a cost: tiny controls, no dedicated dials for exposure adjustments, and a fixed non-tilting screen mean less tactile delight for clubbers of thumbs (read: serious photographers wanting quick access to settings).

The NX1, conversely, caters to the hands that crave control. It features a robust grip, rich array of buttons, dials, and customizable controls delivering a much more intuitive experience - especially for scenes requiring rapid changes to shutter speed, aperture, or ISO on the fly. If you’re often juggling lenses and shooting in manual or semi-auto modes, the NX1’s ergonomics will feel like home.

Ergonomically, this is a classic tradeoff between ultra-portability and professional control - and your choice here hinges on your photography style and how much physical bulk you're willing to carry.

Top-Down Design: Control Layout and Build Quality

Taking a peek from above reveals another layer of this size-and-usability puzzle.

The FP2’s top plate is minimalist - a shutter release, zoom rocker, and a modest mode dial. There’s no dedicated exposure compensation, ISO, or manual mode dials, a nod to its beginner-friendly DNA.

The NX1 shines here with multiple dials including shutter speed, aperture, mode dial, and a top status LCD display offering quick exposure info at a glance - features essential for professionals or any photographer who hates digging through menus mid-shoot. The magnesium alloy frame and weather sealing also elevate the NX1’s build quality, giving confidence in challenging outdoor conditions. The FP2’s lack of any weather sealing limits it to controlled environments or casual use.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: Tiny CCD vs Pro-Grade APS-C CMOS

Certain technical differences are just so foundational they set the entire photographic capabilities apart. The sensor - the heart of any digital camera - distinctly illustrates that here.

The FP2 features a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, measuring approx. 6.08 x 4.56 mm with a resolution of 14 MP. Back in 2010, CCD sensors were still common in compact cameras, known for decent color but struggling with noise at higher ISOs and limited dynamic range.

Meanwhile, the NX1 boasts a 23.5 x 15.7 mm (APS-C) BSI-CMOS sensor with 28 MP resolution, no anti-aliasing filter, and a massive sensor area roughly 13 times larger than the FP2’s. This translates to significantly better image quality, lower noise at high ISO settings, richer color depth, and much broader dynamic range (13.2 EV per DxOMark data). The NX1 max ISO hits 25600 natively, shooting clean images where the FP2 tops out at ISO 6400 - but with a considerably noisier output.

For photographers focused on large prints, landscape, wildlife, and professional genres demanding image excellence, the NX1’s sensor is a giant leap forward offering creative freedom unthinkable on the FP2’s tiny chip.

Screen and Viewfinder: Is Seeing Believing?

Look at the back panels and you’ll notice the FP2 sports a small fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen with just 230k dots; a screen struggling to reveal fine details or accurate color, especially outdoors or under harsh lighting. The FP2 lacks any viewfinder at all - a real downside for bright light shooting.

The NX1 counters with a large 3-inch tilting touchscreen boasting over 1 million dots, combined with a brilliant electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots offering full 100% coverage and sharp focus previews - essential tools when framing and focusing in bright sunlight or complex scenes.

From personal testing, the UX difference between shooting with the NX1’s EVF and a tiny fixed LCD on the FP2 is night and day, especially for precise framing and manual focus. If you demand compositional control, the NX1’s interface leapfrogs the FP2.

Autofocus: From Basic Contrast Detection to Hybrid, Fast and Flexible

Autofocus (AF) is the invisible mechanic that makes or breaks many shoots - especially fast-moving subjects in wildlife, sports, or street photography. Here, the FP2 and NX1 reveal their generation gap.

The FP2 employs a basic contrast detection AF system with 9 focus points but no face or eye detection, and poor continuous tracking. This means slower focus lock and difficulty maintaining sharpness on moving subjects. It’s adequate for static subjects or simple snapshots but definitely frustrating for action or candid street moments.

In sharp contrast, the NX1 features Samsung’s hybrid AF combining 209 focusing points featuring phase and contrast detection sensors, including face detection and continuous tracking modes. This results in razor-fast, reliable autofocus that can track a runner, bird, or fast-moving car with quasi-professional consistency. Tracking, selective AF points, and precision focus tweaks add layers of control for advanced users.

From testing, this difference means the NX1 delivers sharp images much more often under dynamic shooting conditions, while the FP2 feels sluggish in comparison.

Lens Ecosystem and Focal Reach: Fixed Zoom vs Interchangeable Potential

The FP2 is a fixed lens camera with a 35-140 mm equivalent (4x zoom) f/3.5-5.9 lens. This covers a useful short telephoto range - good for portraits or casual walk-around shots, but no lens changes mean you’re locked into that zoom. The lens includes optical image stabilization helping handheld shots at longer focal lengths.

The NX1, however, uses Samsung NX mount allowing access to a range of 32 native lenses spanning wide-angle to super-telephoto primes, zooms, and specialized optics. This flexibility is indispensable for professionals exploring creative possibilities or niche genres such as macro, astrophotography, or sports telephoto needs.

If lens freedom and optical quality are priorities, the NX1 firmly leads. For carefree grab-and-go, the FP2’s built-in lens is hassle-free but limits artistic versatility.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speed: Freezing Action Differences

Speed matters for sports, wildlife, and candid street shots. The FP2 offers a max burst rate of 5 frames per second and shutter speeds ranging from 1/60 to 1/1600 sec. Not bad for a compact, but the slower shutter ceiling and limited buffer mean you might miss fleeting moments.

The NX1 boasts impressive 15 fps continuous shooting with faster shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec, more precise electronic shutter options, and deeper buffers. This responsiveness empowers photographers to capture sports, birds in flight, or kids at play with confidence.

In my own experience, shooting fast action with the FP2 felt like swimming upstream, while the NX1’s speed allowed me to keep pace effortlessly.

Video Performance: Modest HD vs 4K Professional

With video’s rise, many photographers want hybrid shooting.

The FP2 supports 720p HD video at 30 fps using Motion JPEG codec - sufficient for casual clips but far from today's standards. There’s no microphone input or advanced audio controls; forget professional sound or 4K options.

By contrast, the NX1 delivers 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps and even true DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 24 fps, with efficient H.265 compression, microphone and headphone jacks for pro audio monitoring, and full manual exposure control in video. The built-in stabilization is absent, but many lenses include optical stabilization to compensate.

For content creators eyeing professional video, the NX1 is a clear winner - photo plus studio-quality video in one package.

Practicality in the Field: Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The FP2’s diminutive size means a small battery with unknown precise life but likely limited to a couple hundred shots. It supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and features a USB 2.0 port for transfers but no wireless options, GPS, or HDMI output. It’s straightforward but barebones.

The NX1 sports a 500-shot rated BP1900 battery, significantly longer-lasting in practice, especially for extended sessions. Storage supports high-speed UHS-I and II SD cards, ideal for handling its large 4K video files and rapid burst shooting. Connectivity is modern with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB 3.0, and HDMI output, offering tremendous flexibility for remote control and quick file transfer.

In the real world, the NX1 easily adapts to pro workflows, tethered shooting, or quick on-location sharing, while the FP2 remains a simple snapshot machine.

Environmental Durability and Weather Sealing

If you shoot outdoors professionally or adventure travel, weather sealing is a must.

The FP2 has no weather or dust resistance, making it vulnerable to the elements. The NX1 offers extensive weather and dust sealing, though not fully waterproof, giving added confidence in rough conditions.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Before I wrap up, here’s how these two stack up across popular photographic disciplines - synthesized from hands-on testing and experience shooting both bodies.

Panasonic FP2 front Panasonic FP2 screen back Samsung NX1 front Samsung NX1 screen back

Portrait Photography

• FP2: Decent skin tone rendition but limited by small sensor noise at higher ISO and fixed lens. No eye AF means manual focusing can be tricky. Bokeh is soft but not creamy.
• NX1: Excellent skin tones and pleasing bokeh from its larger sensor and prime lenses. Face and eye detection AF work fluidly. Great choice for portrait pros or enthusiasts.

Landscape Photography

• FP2: Limited by CCD sensor dynamic range and lack of weather sealing, plus modest resolution (14MP).
• NX1: Impressive dynamic range and resolution (28MP) capture rich landscape detail. Weather sealing adds ruggedness for outdoor shoots.

Wildlife Photography

• FP2: Fixed zoom struggles with reach and focus speed. Not ideal.
• NX1: Fast tracking AF and access to long telephoto lenses make it a capable wildlife tool.

Sports Photography

• FP2: Slow AF and max 5 fps limits capturing fast action.
• NX1: 15 fps burst and precision AF give it a pro sports shooter edge.

Street Photography

• FP2: Pocketable and discreet, good for casual street shooting.
• NX1: Bulkier but fast AF and superior image quality suit professional street shooters.

Macro Photography

• FP2: Macro focus from 10 cm but limited manual focus and lack of lens options hamper creativity.
• NX1: Wide lens choice and focus peaking help nail macro shots.

Night and Astrophotography

• FP2: Limited high ISO performance and no long exposure control.
• NX1: Low-light ISO performance and manual modes make it possible.

Video Capabilities

• FP2: Basic 720p with no pro options.
• NX1: Full 4K and pro-grade audio support.

Travel Photography

• FP2: Ultra-light travel buddy.
• NX1: Heavier but versatile kit for serious trips.

Professional Work

• FP2: Not designed for pro workflows.
• NX1: Robust pro file support (RAW), connectivity, and durability.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: Bang for Your Buck?

At roughly $80 street price, the FP2 is an inexpensive, no-frills ultracompact for those who just want a budget throw-in-the-pocket camera. It delivers basic point-and-shoot performance for snapshots, but don’t expect miracles.

The NX1, at around $1500, is a considerable financial investment reflecting its pro-grade ambitions. The price buys you advanced sensor tech, dynamic AF, 4K video, weather sealing, and a mature lens ecosystem. Despite Samsung's exit from camera markets, the NX1 still offers excellent performance and can be found at discounted prices, representing solid value for enthusiasts looking for high performance at mid-level cost.

Pros and Cons: Quick Summary

Who Should Buy Which? My Recommendations

Panasonic FP2

Buy this if…

• You want a tiny budget camera for casual snapshots and travel with minimal fuss.
• Portability trumps image excellence for your use case.
• You’re a cheapskate or need a secondary “always with me” camera.
• Basic video capture is sufficient, without need for advanced features.
• You want a simple, lightweight walk-around camera.

Samsung NX1

Buy this if…

• You’re a serious shooter or professional who prioritizes ultimate image quality and fast, reliable AF.
• You require 4K video and advanced filming features.
• You want to build a versatile system with multiple lenses.
• You shoot action, wildlife, landscapes, portraits, or events where performance counts.
• You're comfortable with the size and investment required for a pro mirrorless camera.

Final Verdict: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

Summing up a decade in between, the Panasonic FP2 and Samsung NX1 represent completely different photographic philosophies. The FP2 excels as a convenient, ultra-compact camera perfect for snapshots and simple travel photography, though constrained by older sensor technology and limited features. The NX1, with its pro-level APS-C sensor, blazing AF, extensive controls, and 4K video, remains a solid mirrorless contender despite Samsung’s retreat from cameras.

If you want a simple grab-and-go and your budget is tight, the FP2 can still surprise you given its modest price. But if image quality, speed, and creative versatility drive you - especially in demanding genres - the NX1 delivers features and performance that justify its higher price and bulk.

Photography gear is ultimately about matching the tool to your vision and workflow - and by understanding these cameras’ strengths and shortcomings, your next camera purchase will be rooted in real-world insight, not flashy spec sheets.

Happy shooting!

Note: If you liked this thorough comparison and want help choosing lenses or accessories for either system, just give me a shout. I’m here to help you navigate the sometimes overwhelming universe of camera gear.

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• Panasonic FP2 front Panasonic FP2 screen back Samsung NX1 front Samsung NX1 screen back