Panasonic Lumix FP5 vs Sony Cyber-shot WX150: The Real-World Compact Camera Showdown

When it comes to compact cameras, I’ve often found that users are chasing different dreams - sometimes ultra-portable convenience, other times zoom versatility or image quality that punches above the sensor size. Today, we’re diving deep into a vintage but interesting comparison: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 versus the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150. Both cameras serve the pocket-friendly market but with remarkably different tech approaches, which makes this an insightful versus for anyone interested in how camera specs translate into daily shooting experiences.

I tested both cameras extensively in my studio, on urban streets, and during weekend outings. I’ll take you through everything from sensor tech to ergonomics and real-world image results. Whether you’re a casual shooter or a keen enthusiast looking for a solid second body, this analysis will help you pick the compact that lands best in your hands, pocket, and workflow.

First Impressions and Handling: How Do They Feel in Your Grip?

Physical comfort and interface might seem like small potatoes compared to sensor specs, but I cannot overstate the importance. If a camera isn’t intuitive or comfortable, you won’t enjoy shooting it.

Starting with size and weight, both the Panasonic FP5 and Sony WX150 are designed for maximum portability. The FP5 is an ultracompact at 101 x 59 x18 mm and 141 grams, whereas the WX150, although slightly chunkier at 95 x 56 x 22 mm and 133 grams, offers a bit more heft and longer zoom reach.

The Panasonic’s slim profile makes it a breeze to slip into jacket pockets, perfect for those who hate carrying extra bulk. However, at only 18mm thick with a tiny lens barrel, the FP5 suffers somewhat in ergonomics - its narrow body gives your fingers little to grab onto, which can make extended shooting sessions feel a bit precarious.

Sony’s WX150 gives you a slightly more contoured grip and better-distributed weight, which reduces hand fatigue over time. Both cameras lack dedicated thumb clubs or textured rubber grips, so neither is a perfect match for sweaty palms or bustling street shoots, but the WX150’s design feels just a tad more confident in hand.

Looking at controls, the FP5 leans into simplicity with a minimal button layout. The touchscreen LCD is the star here, as there aren’t traditional exposure dials or custom buttons. It’s perfect for point-and-shoot folks but limits quick manual adjustments - a big downside for those used to reflex-style control.

The WX150, meanwhile, offers a bit more tactile control. Its small but decisively placed buttons and a manual exposure mode (a rarity in compacts this small) are welcome for enthusiasts wanting to nudge settings without digging into menus. There’s no touchscreen, but Sony’s menu system and physical controls impressed me with their responsiveness and logical flow.

Overall, if you prize pocketability over handling finesse, the Panasonic FP5 is lean to the extreme; for a better grip and more traditional controls, the Sony WX150 edges ahead.

Sensor and Image Quality: What You See Really Is What You Get

Compact cameras often struggle against their smartphone rivals, especially given their small sensors. Yet even within the compact world, image quality varies widely based on sensor architecture and processing.

Both cameras pack a 1/2.3-inch sensor - pretty tiny by modern interchangeable lens standards - but the tech inside differs:

• Panasonic FP5: 14-megapixel CCD sensor with a Venus Engine IV processor
• Sony WX150: 18-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor with BIONZ image processor

While the MP count difference isn’t extreme, the switch from CCD to BSI-CMOS is significant. Backside-illuminated sensors capture more light per pixel, improving low-light sensitivity and noise performance. In testing, this was evident:

• Noise at ISO 400: Panasonic images showed noticeable grain and color smearing. Sony’s output was cleaner with finer detail retention.
• Dynamic range: the WX150 handled highlights and shadows more gracefully. The FP5 tended to clip bright areas under harsh light and crushed shadow detail.
• Resolution: Sony’s extra megapixels provided more crispness in toothy textures like foliage and fabric patterns.

Furthermore, Panasonic’s CCD sensor was paired with an antialiasing filter to reduce moiré at the expense of some sharpness. Sony also used AA filters, but the BSI design compensated better, preserving detail without introducing artifacts.

For serious landscape or portrait photographers requiring maximum image quality from a compact, the WX150 presents a clear advantage in usable resolution, low-light performance, and color fidelity.

Screen and Viewfinder: What You See Is How You Frame It?

Neither camera includes an electronic or optical viewfinder, so the rear LCD is critical for composing and reviewing shots.

The Panasonic’s 3-inch screen has a very low resolution of 230k dots and is a touchscreen - one of its few modern conveniences for 2011 tech. The touch interface allowed quick menu access and focus point setting, though the lag was noticeable on occasion. Outdoor visibility was poor - sunlight reflections made composing in bright settings frustrating.

The Sony WX150 also features a 3-inch screen but with an HD resolution of 461k dots. Although it’s not a touchscreen, the clarity and brightness of the display proved far superior for outdoor use, with vivid colors and better contrast. This made framing and reviewing shots much easier, especially when shooting under the noon sun or early evening.

Neither screen tilts or articulates, which for me is a commonly missed feature, especially for macro, low-angle, or selfie shots.

If you are reliant on a clear, sharp display for framing and reviewing, Sony’s WX150 screen offers a distinctly more pleasant user experience.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching the Moment When It Counts

Fast, reliable autofocus (AF) can be a deal-breaker for many shooters, especially for wildlife, sports, or street photography.

The Panasonic FP5 uses an 11-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection and continuous AF tracking, while the Sony WX150 offers a 9-point contrast-detection AF with face detection and center-weighted metering.

During tests:

• Panasonic FP5 AF: Focus speed felt sluggish, especially in lower light. The lack of manual focus or selective AF area meant you often fought with the camera to lock onto your subject. Tracking moving subjects was inconsistent, leading to frequent missed shots.
• Sony WX150 AF: Contrast AF was more responsive and quicker to lock, thanks to the optimized BIONZ processor and hybrid exposure metering. Center-weighted metering helped keep exposure correct on faces and subjects in busy scenes. Tracking was decent but struggled with very fast action.

Burst rates also revealed differences:

• Panasonic offered a 6fps continuous shooting speed, sufficient for casual action but often throttled by buffer size and writing speeds.
• Sony pushed 10fps, advantageous for capturing fleeting moments in street or wildlife photography.

While neither camera competes with DSLRs or advanced mirrorless bodies, the Sony WX150 edges ahead in real-world autofocus speed and burst shooting, making it more suitable for capturing decisive moments.

Lens and Zoom Reach: How Far and How Close Can You Go?

Fixed zoom lenses limit versatility but define the camera’s shooting range and performance.

• Panasonic FP5: 35-140mm equivalent (4x zoom), max aperture F3.5-5.9
• Sony WX150: 25-250mm equivalent (10x zoom), max aperture F3.3-5.9

From a practical standpoint, the Sony’s zoom range is the clear winner. The added telephoto reach expands shooting options - from wide-angle street scenes and landscapes to tighter portraits or distant subjects.

The Panasonic’s shorter zoom is less flexible but arguably better balanced for casual shooting, with less lens breathing and distortion across the range.

Both cameras offer optical image stabilization (OIS). In my hands, stabilization on both was solid and effective up to moderate focal lengths. However, at the Sony’s 250mm equivalent maximum, camera shake became more noticeable despite stabilization efforts, so a steady hand (or monopod) is recommended for sharp telephoto shots.

The Panasonic macro range permits focusing as close as 10cm, while the Sony goes down to 5cm, offering better close-up options for flower or food photography.

The Panasonic’s lens benefits those who prioritize smaller size and simplicity. The Sony WX150 appeals to anyone desiring greater creative framing flexibility and telephoto utility in a compact package.

Video Capabilities: For Casual Shooters and Content Creators

Video features in compact cameras are often a make-or-break component for casual videographers or social media content creators.

• Panasonic FP5 shoots up to 720p HD at 30fps in Motion JPEG format.
• Sony WX150 elevates video to 1080p Full HD at 60fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4.

It’s clear the Sony pushes the video envelope despite the camera’s age, offering:

• Higher resolution and smoother frame rates for crisp playback
• More efficient compression with AVCHD for longer recording times
• HDMI port for external display or recording

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone jacks, so external audio capture is limited - something to be aware of if video is a primary need.

The Panasonic FP5’s video quality and codec are decidedly dated by modern standards and should be considered a backup or casual feature rather than a content creation tool.

In short, Sony’s WX150 represents a more future-proof choice for video enthusiasts who want better resolution, frame rates, and format options.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Power When You Need It

Battery endurance and data transfer options influence how worry-free your shooting experience will be.

• Panasonic FP5 rated for about 260 shots per charge, using a proprietary battery pack.
• Sony WX150 offers around 240 shots per charge with NP-BN battery.

In practice, I found both cameras to be on the low end compared to contemporary standards, which is typical of compact cameras with small batteries. I recommend carrying a spare battery if you plan full-day outings.

Connectivity is another area where the Sony WX150 wins by a mile. The FP5 is barebones: no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, or NFC. Sony surprisingly included Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless image transfer and an HDMI port for on-the-fly playback, making it easier to move images to computers or smartphones (with compatible hardware).

The Panasonic requires USB 2.0 tethering and manual transfers, a slower and less convenient process.

For power users who need connectivity options and quick sharing capability, Sony’s WX150 is the better pick.

Durability and Build Quality: Can These Compacts Take a Beating?

Neither camera sports weather sealing or rugged construction, which is common in their category. Both have plastic bodies designed for light daily use.

Neither is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, or freezeproof. If harsh environments or adventurous travel is part of your shooting plans, you’ll want to invest in external protective cases or look elsewhere.

Build quality seemed marginally better on the Sony WX150, with buttons feeling slightly more solid and less prone to flex. The Panasonic FP5’s slim construction sacrifices structural robustness for pocketability.

Real-World Photography Tests: Samples and Usage Notes

Panasonic FP5 front Panasonic FP5 screen back Sony WX150 front Sony WX150 screen back

In portrait shooting indoors, the Sony WX150’s superior sensor and lens produced softer backgrounds and better skin tones, with smoother gradations thanks to wider ISO range and better image processing.

For landscapes, the WX150’s wider 25mm equivalent helped capture expansive scenes without the distortion seen on the Panasonic FP5’s narrower widest focal length. Dynamic range was noticeably better, with more preserved shadow details.

On the street, the Panasonic’s tiny size was a blessing for discretion, but autofocus lag occasionally led to missed fleeting moments. The Sony’s faster AF and burst mode helped capture street action far more reliably, at the cost of slightly more bulk.

Wildlife and sports shooting leaned heavily towards the Sony’s 10fps burst rate and 10x zoom reach. While neither is a wildlife telephoto powerhouse, the WX150 lets you get closer and shoot faster.

Macro shots had better close focusing capability on the Sony, yielding sharper close-ups with more detail.

In low-light and night photography, the Sony’s higher ISO ceiling allowed more usable shots without tripod use, although noise was still limiting for serious astrophotography.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

To summarize how these cameras stack up across popular photography needs:

• Portraits: Sony WX150 preferred for better bokeh and skin tone rendering
• Landscapes: Sony clear winner on dynamic range and zoom versatility
• Wildlife: Sony outpaces with faster AF and zoom reach
• Sports: Sony favored for burst speed and autofocus tracking
• Street: Panasonic scores points for discretion and portability; Sony for speed
• Macro: Sony wins for closer focusing and detail
• Night/Astro: Sony’s better high ISO coverage makes it more usable
• Video: Sony offers superior quality and formats
• Travel: Panasonic wins on sheer pocketability, Sony on versatility
• Professional Use: Neither designed for high-end pro work but Sony’s manual controls make it marginally better suited for flexibility

Putting It All Together: Overall Performance and Value

From my extensive hands-on experience, here’s how the numbers shake out:

Recommendations

Who Should Buy the Panasonic Lumix FP5?

• If you prioritize ultra-portability above all else for casual point-and-shoot snapshots
• If you want a very affordable pocket camera primarily for daytime or vacation photography
• If touchscreen control with minimal fuss appeals and you don’t mind moderate autofocus lag
• If your budget is tight and you want a simple second camera or gift for beginners

Who Should Choose the Sony Cyber-shot WX150?

• If you want a more versatile zoom lens with telephoto reach for varied shooting conditions
• If image quality, especially in low light, is important to you
• If you’ll shoot moderate action scenes or wildlife, needing faster autofocus and burst
• If you want Full HD video recording with decent frame rates in multiple formats
• If handheld shooting comfort and more manual control options are a priority

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Camera Wins Your Pocket?

I have a soft spot for the Panasonic FP5’s lean design and touchscreen simplicity; it’s a decent option for the casual snapshot crowd who value pocket-friendliness above all else. But if you want to seriously elevate your compact camera photography without moving to a larger system, the Sony WX150 delivers a more powerful package. Its better sensor, longer zoom, faster performance, and sharper video playback justify the extra $100 in my book.

The FP5 is a solid, budget-friendly cheapskate’s companion - small, simple, and ready to shoot indoors and out. The Sony WX150, meanwhile, caters to enthusiasts craving more creative freedom and image quality, with practical contours and features that take your everyday shooting up a notch.

Both have their fans, and both deserve consideration depending on your style, budget, and expectations.

Happy shooting - and remember, the best camera is the one you have in your hand when inspiration strikes.

If you want to explore lenses, accessories, or more in-depth tutorials (including some for these cameras), feel free to reach out or peruse my other reviews.