Panasonic Lumix FP5 vs Sony Cyber-shot W620: A Detailed Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right compact camera can be challenging, especially when you’re balancing portability, image quality, and feature sets. Today, we’re diving deep into a thorough comparison between two popular ultracompact/compact cameras released in the early 2010s: the Panasonic Lumix FP5 and the Sony Cyber-shot W620. Both models address casual and enthusiast photography needs, but each brings a unique blend of design, technology, and practical usability to the table.

We’ve personally tested thousands of cameras under various shooting conditions over the years. Here, we’ll bring you detailed, hands-on insights into these two cameras across essential photography genres - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night, video, travel, and even professional workflows. Alongside technical analysis, user experience, and value considerations, this will help you choose the best fit for your creative needs.

Getting to Know the Cameras: Form Factor, Handling, and Design

When selecting a camera, the physical experience is as crucial as the specs. How a camera feels in your hand, the button layout, and the weight affect how long you can comfortably shoot.

Our Experience with Handling

The Panasonic FP5 leans toward being a slightly sleeker ultracompact, its 3-inch touchscreen providing an intuitive, direct way to navigate menus and focus. For casual outings where you want quick setup and touch focusing, this makes a solid difference. The body is slim but broad enough to hold confidently.

The Sony W620 is marginally lighter and just a little thicker. Although it lacks a touchscreen, the Clear Photo TFT screen offers sharp color rendition. The physical controls are straightforward but feel simplistic. With no illuminated buttons and fewer ergonomic enhancements, it’s geared more toward simple point-and-shoot scenarios.

If you value touchscreen ease and a slightly larger viewing screen, the Panasonic FP5 is preferable. Sony’s model is a tad smaller in volume, which might suit those prioritizing minimal bulk in pockets or bags.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Your Photos

Image quality starts with sensor size, resolution, and processing engine. Both cameras use 1/2.3" CCD sensors at 14 MP - typical for this category and era - but their processors differ:

Technical Analysis of Image Quality

The Panasonic FP5’s Venus Engine IV processor historically delivers clean images with fine detail retention, even under variable lighting. The higher maximum native ISO of 6400 theoretically offers more flexibility in low-light environments, though noise becomes noticeable above ISO 800 in practical shooting.

Sony’s W620 implements the venerable BIONZ engine, known for balanced noise reduction and sharpening. However, the maximum ISO tops out at 3200, which limits its low-light versatility comparatively.

As both cameras lack RAW format capture, image optimization is solely in-camera. This affects post-processing flexibility, especially for professionals who prefer fine control over exposure and white balance.

Focusing Systems: Precision Where You Need It

Autofocus is critical for sharp photos across genres. Here is what each model offers:

Real-World Autofocus Performance

In our tests, the Panasonic FP5’s touchscreen AF capability allows you to tap precisely where you want focus, a significant advantage for portrait and macro work. The 11 AF points provide straightforward framing alignment, and face detection reliably locks onto subjects in moderate light.

Sony’s W620 supports face detection with center-weighted AF but lacks touch AF, requiring cycling through focus modes with buttons. It shines with macro at 5 cm minimum focus distance, better than the FP5’s 10 cm, ideal for close-up shots of flowers and small objects.

Neither camera includes phase-detection AF, so speed in fast-action scenarios like sports or wildlife is limited.

Lenses and Optical Versatility: Zoom and Aperture

Lens specs heavily influence creative possibilities.

Lens Performance and Creative Flexibility

Sony’s wider angle of 28mm on the short end offers more flexibility for landscapes and indoor shooting - great for travel and street photography. The deeper 5x zoom provides framing options but sacrifices aperture speed at telephoto lengths, especially compared to the Panasonic’s slightly faster aperture at 140mm.

Panasonic’s lens offers a modest 35-140 mm, sufficient for portraits and general shooting but less flexible for expansive scenery or tight spaces. On the plus side, its optical image stabilization assists steady shots at longer focal lengths.

Exposure and Shutter Control: Creativity Limits

Neither camera features manual exposure controls, shutter priority, or aperture priority modes. Exposure compensation is unavailable as well. This limits creative control but simplifies operation for casual users.

The Panasonic FP5 offers custom white balance, giving you some color temperature control, while the Sony W620 sticks to auto and presets. Note the W620’s minimum shutter speed opens to 2 seconds, enabling low-light and some night photography, which the FP5 lacks with a minimum of 1/60 second.

Video Capabilities: Creating Moving Stories

Both cameras shoot video at 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second, encoded in Motion JPEG format.

Although neither camera supports 4K or advanced video codecs, the FP5’s touchscreen focusing and optical stabilization provide smoother handheld video footage. The W620’s lack of stabilization means video tends to show more shake under motion.

Real-World Use Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic FP5: You benefit from face detection and touch AF for quick focusing on eyes or faces. Its optical stabilization reduces blur from hand shake during slower shutter speeds. The lens aperture is moderate, so background blur ('bokeh') is limited but sufficient for casual portraits.

• Sony W620: Face detection is present but less refined without touch AF. The slightly wider angle at 28mm may introduce distortion in close portraits. Macro focus starts closer, helping detail shots of eyes or features. No stabilization means you’ll need steady hands.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic’s 35 mm minimum focal length is less wide, limiting expansive shots compared to Sony’s 28 mm. Both cameras are lightweight but lack weather sealing, so braving harsh conditions requires caution.

• Both cameras produce decent dynamic range for their sensor class but expect limited highlight and shadow retention in contrasty scenes.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

Neither camera excels here given fixed lenses, slow continuous shooting (6 fps FP5 versus 1 fps W620), and basic contrast-detection AF. The FP5’s 6 fps burst is helpful, but autofocus is not tailored for subject tracking or speed.

Street Photography

• The compact size and discreet designs of both cameras work well.

• The FP5’s touchscreen might slow candid shooting, whereas the W620’s physical buttons allow quick shooting, albeit with slower autofocus.

Macro Photography

• Sony’s 5 cm minimum macro distance provides more flexibility for close-up detail shots compared to Panasonic’s 10 cm.

• No focus stacking or bracketing, so relying on natural depth of field and manual framing is necessary.

Night and Astro Photography

• The longer shutter speeds allowed by the Sony W620 (down to 2s) offer more potential for night scenes, though noise will rise.

• The FP5 is limited to a minimum shutter speed of 1/60 second, hindering night photography options.

Video Use

• For casual video recording, the FP5 edges ahead with image stabilization and touch focus control.

• Both models lack microphone input, limiting audio quality.

Travel Photography

• Both cameras are compact and lightweight enough for travel convenience.

• The FP5 offers better battery life and touchscreen access for on-the-go adjustments.

• The Sony W620’s lens versatility (wider wide-angle and longer zoom) may capture more varied scenes.

Professional Use

• Both cameras are entry-level with limited file formats (no RAW), fixed lenses, and minimal manual controls, so they are not recommended for professional-grade work.

• However, they serve well as backup or casual carry cameras during travel or events.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance. Both should be treated delicately and kept clear of moisture or rough handling.

Connectivity and Storage

The Sony W620 offers broader compatibility with storage formats, adding microSD and Sony Memory Stick support - useful if you already own those cards. Eye-Fi compatibility enables wireless image transfer with the right cards, a handy perk for instant sharing.

Battery Life and Power Management

• The Panasonic FP5 offers approximately 260 shots per charge, edging slightly ahead of the Sony W620’s 220 shots.

• Both use proprietary battery packs; Sony’s NP-BN model is widely available and used in other Cyber-shot models, easing backup acquisition.

Summary of Key Strengths and Weaknesses

Hands-On Image Gallery Inspection

Look closely at the sample gallery photos taken under varied lighting and subjects:

Panasonic FP5 front Panasonic FP5 screen back Sony W620 front Sony W620 screen back

• Panasonic captures warmer color tones with slightly better clarity under dim light.

• Sony images have a cooler tone and slightly more noise in low-light settings. The wider angle offers more context in framing.

Scoring and Performance Ratings

Based on our standardized benchmarking and user feedback, here is how the two stack up:

Genre-Specific Scores

Final Recommendations: Who Should Choose Which?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FP5 if:

• You want a slightly larger ultracompact with touchscreen controls and better ergonomic handling.
• Face detection and touch autofocus make portrait and casual photography easier.
• You prioritize longer battery life and better in-camera image stabilization for handheld shots.
• You need slightly better low-light performance (higher ISO) and video usability.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot W620 if:

• You want a more pocketable compact with a wider-angle lens suitable for landscapes and interiors.
• Closer macro focusing (5 cm) is important to you.
• You appreciate multi-format card support and wireless uploading options via Eye-Fi.
• You are looking for the most budget-friendly option without touchscreen dependence.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Next Compact Camera Purchase

Both the Panasonic Lumix FP5 and Sony Cyber-shot W620 represent solid consumer-grade ultra-compact cameras from an earlier generation, focusing on ease of use and travel-friendly design. While neither replaces more advanced compacts or mirrorless systems for professionals, their blend of sensor technology, optics, and usability still provides good value for basic photography and casual use.

If you’re on a tight budget or prefer simpler operation, the Sony W620 is an approachable choice. If you want enhanced control with touchscreen interaction and better image stabilization in the same size category, the Panasonic FP5 is worth the small extra investment.

Whichever you pick, make sure to test the handling and interface for yourself to ensure it fits your shooting style. Pair your camera with compatible accessories like extra batteries, quality memory cards, and protective cases to get the most from your photography adventures.

Ready to explore ultracompact photography? Check out local retailers or online stores to handle these cameras firsthand, and consider the right accessories to complement your unique creative journey.

Happy shooting!

This comparison draws on our extensive hands-on testing and technical analysis to give you an expert, balanced guide tailored to your photography needs.