Panasonic FP5 vs Sony W730: An In-Depth Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera is a personal journey shaped by your creative needs, shooting style, and technical expectations. Today, we’re placing under the microscope two popular compact cameras from the early 2010s: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730. Both are designed to be portable companions with easy usability and respectable photo quality. However, each carries its own strengths and trade-offs, which we’ll explore in detail.

Whether you’re a casual shooter exploring street photography, a budding travel vlogger, or someone looking for a handy backup camera, this side-by-side review will guide you through the critical differences. Our verdicts will help you make an informed choice grounded in decades of hands-on experience testing compact cameras across all photography genres.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Design and Ergonomics

The first impression a camera makes often starts with how it feels in your hands - size, weight, button layout, and handling smoothness make or break your shooting experience.

In-hand, the Panasonic FP5 feels a bit chunkier front-to-back but thinner height-wise, lending a more substantial grip. The Sony W730 is slightly smaller and lighter, fitting better in tighter pockets or purses, enhancing portability for street and travel photographers prioritizing discreetness.

The FP5’s 3-inch touchscreen provides a more generous viewing area than the W730’s 2.7 inches. This difference, subtle on paper, is noticeable when reviewing shots or navigating menus.

On top, the FP5’s control layout favors simplicity with minimal buttons and a touch interface, while the W730 packs in conventional control buttons for quicker access without relying on menus.

For those who prefer tactile controls while shooting, the W730’s approach may prove more satisfying. For minimalists or quick vacation shooters, the FP5’s streamlined top controls and touchscreen ease the learning curve.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Core of Photography

Both cameras feature a small 1/2.3" CCD sensor, fairly standard for compact cameras of their era. This size imposes inherent limitations related to noise handling and dynamic range, but actual performance depends heavily on processing and lens optics.

The Sony W730 edges slightly in resolution (16MP vs. 14MP), which can translate into marginally sharper images or more cropping room - although the difference isn't dramatic given identical sensor sizes.

Panasonic’s camera supports a wider ISO range up to 6400 compared to Sony’s maximum ISO 3200. However, increasing ISO amplifies noise dramatically in such small sensors, so usability depends on noise reduction efficiency.

Our tests revealed both cameras produce crisp, clean images at ISO 100-400 with well-controlled noise. Beyond ISO 800, image quality begins to degrade, evidenced by increased grain and detail loss. The FP5’s broader ISO range is thus more theoretical than practical.

Due to CCD technology, both cameras excel in reproducing natural colors and pleasing tonality but struggle somewhat in low light and shadow detail compared to more modern CMOS sensors.

Lens and Zoom: Framing Your Vision

Lens quality significantly influences the final image and shooting versatility. Let’s breakdown each camera’s focal range and maximum aperture:

The Sony W730 impresses with a significantly longer zoom range, extending to 224mm equivalent, making it more flexible for distant subjects like wildlife or candid street shots.

Panasonic’s FP5 nails standard focal lengths starting a bit tighter at 35mm and maxing out at 140mm - adequate for portraits and everyday scenes but less reach if telephoto is a priority.

Macro shooting favors Sony’s W730, which offers a 5cm minimum focus distance versus 10cm on the FP5. This allows closer approach for detailed close-ups on flowers, insects, or tiny objects.

While maximum apertures are moderately similar, keep in mind both lenses have slower apertures at the tele side, affecting low-light performance and depth-of-field control.

Autofocus Capabilities: Capturing the Moment

An autofocus system’s reliability can make or break your shot, especially when dealing with dynamic subjects or low light.

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus, standard for compacts, with face detection to help in portraits. The FP5 offers 11 focus points, while Sony’s exact number isn’t specified but it covers center-weighted and spot metering modes.

Despite their tech limitations, both deliver respectable AF speeds in good light but struggle in dim environments. Neither supports manual focus or advanced tracking modes, limiting creativity for challenging subjects.

FP5’s touchscreen AF allows quick focus points selection, enhancing convenience in framing your shots intuitively.

Display and User Interface: Seeing Is Believing

Your experience shooting relies heavily on how effectively the camera communicates with you through its interface and display.

The Panasonic FP5’s 3-inch screen provides a slightly larger window to frame and review shots. Coupled with touchscreen focus and menu navigation, it offers a smooth user interface conducive to quick adjustments.

Sony’s W730 screen size is a tad smaller but maintains the same resolution; its interface still performs solidly, though lacking live view AF touch control - which can slow down operation subtly.

Neither camera features any electronic or optical viewfinder, so composing under bright sunlight can be challenging - an important consideration for outdoor enthusiasts.

Burst Shooting and Performance

For action and sports photography, shooting speed and buffer size matter enormously.

The FP5 offers a very competitive 6 frames-per-second burst, allowing you to capture fleeting moments like a child’s smile or fast-moving pet. The Sony W730’s single frame per second burst mode limits it to more static scenarios.

If you frequently shoot action or want to experiment with sequences, the Panasonic’s speed is a distinct asset.

Video: Shooting Moving Stories

Video mode is critical for travel, family moments, or casual content creation. Both cameras support HD recording but with some nuances.

Both capture 720p video at 30fps, enough for casual clips but insufficient for professional video work. Notably, Sony offers AVCHD compression, generally more efficient and higher quality than Panasonic’s Motion JPEG.

Neither supports external audio inputs, limiting audio quality control.

Image stabilization helps smooth handheld footage, valuable for travel and vlogging in the field.

Battery Life and Storage: Ready When You Are

Extended shooting sessions require dependable power and enough memory slots.

The Panasonic FP5 offers a marginally better battery life, meaning you can squeeze a few more shots per charge - a boon on longer trips without easy recharge options.

Sony’s support for Memory Stick cards in addition to SD cards enhances compatibility but also requires attention to media availability and cost.

Real-World Performance Across Genres

Now let’s dissect how each camera fares in various photography disciplines based on our thorough field testing:

Panasonic FP5 front Panasonic FP5 screen back Sony W730 front Sony W730 screen back

Our sample gallery highlights the differences: FP5 provides warm tones and smooth gradations, while W730 delivers crispness and zoom flexibility. In low light, noise is present in both but slightly more manageable on the FP5 with its higher ISO capabilities.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera is weather sealed or specially ruggedized, so both require cautious use in adverse environments. They are built for leisure and casual use, not harsh professional applications.

Both share plastic constructions typical of their categories but feel solid enough for everyday carry.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS, which is expected for their release period and category.

The absence of HDMI ports restricts direct high-definition video output, and no microphone or headphone jacks limit audio control during recording.

They provide simple USB 2.0 connections for transferring files and charging.

Price-to-Performance Analysis and Value

Both models are aging but maintain decent value as budget-friendly, easy-to-use compacts.

Overall Performance Ratings

How Do They Fit Different Photography Styles?

• Portraits: Both cameras manage pleasant skin tones and reliable face AF. The FP5’s wider aperture at wide end slightly enhances subject-background separation but neither provides strong bokeh.

• Landscape: Sony W730’s longer zoom aids framing distant views but struggles more with noise. The FP5 offers cleaner images at base ISO.

• Wildlife: W730’s zoom is a clear advantage, despite slower continuous shooting. FP5 can capture quicker bursts but limited by focal length.

• Sports: FP5 dominates with 6 fps burst, suitable for amateurs. The W730 struggles with 1 fps.

• Street: W730’s smaller footprint suits street photography, but both lack viewfinders and excel primarily for casual urban snapshots.

• Macro: W730’s closer macro focus and sharper detail make it preferable for close-ups.

• Night: Higher native ISO on FP5 helps, but image noise on both suggest external flash or tripod recommended.

• Video: W730’s AVCHD format and more advanced flash modes are marginally better for casual shooting.

• Travel: Both light and compact. FP5’s better battery and bigger screen add to comfort.

• Professional: Both limited; no RAW support or external controls.

Final Verdict and Recommendations

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 each appeal to specific user needs:

• Choose Panasonic FP5 if you:

  • Want faster burst shooting for action or sports
  • Prefer a larger screen and touchscreen live view autofocus
  • Value a slightly higher ISO ceiling for varied lighting conditions
  • Need longer battery life for extended outings

• Choose Sony W730 if you:

  • Need versatile zoom reach, especially telephoto
  • Desire better macro capabilities with closer focusing
  • Prefer a smaller, lighter body for street or travel photography
  • Appreciate improved video compression and basic flash options

Neither camera is fit for heavy professional use today, but they remain capable companions for casual photographers, beginners, and travelers who prioritize ease of use, portability, and decent image quality in a budget.

Tips to Maximize Your Compact Camera Experience

• Always shoot at base ISO or the lowest native ISO to reduce noise.
• Use touch focus (where available) for precise framing control.
• For low-light or night scenes, employ a tripod and manual timer to avoid blur.
• Consider additional accessories like a compact tripod or external lighting.
• Explore manual white balance settings to fine-tune color rendition.
• Shoot in well-lit environments for the best sharpness and color fidelity.
• Regularly update firmware where possible to enhance performance.

In Closing

Both the Panasonic FP5 and Sony W730 provide compelling packages for specific compact camera enthusiasts. We hope this detailed comparison has clarified their respective strengths and compromises, helping you to find a camera that fits your style and creative vision.

If possible, try hands-on testing to feel which ergonomics and interface resonate with you. Pairing a camera with the right accessories and patience can unlock its full potential long after release.

Happy shooting!

If you want more advice on lenses, memory cards, or camera accessories suitable for these models, just ask - we’re here to support your creative path.