Panasonic FP7 vs. Sony A6400: A Thorough Hands-On Comparison for Today’s Photographer

When an enthusiast or professional photographer begins shopping for a new camera, the choices can be intimidating - especially when models straddle wildly different categories. Such is the case with the Panasonic Lumix FP7, an ultracompact fixed-lens camera released in 2011, pitted against the Sony Alpha a6400, a highly regarded advanced mirrorless system from 2019. At first glance, these two seem like entirely different beasts; one is designed for pocketable convenience and simplicity, the other for creative control and serious performance. But what do those differences actually mean for your images, your workflow, and your shooting experience? After countless hours testing across a spectrum of conditions and photographic disciplines, I’m excited to break down how these two cameras stack up in real-world use.

Before we dive in, here is a quick reference to their physical size difference:

First Impressions: Design and Handling

Holding the Panasonic FP7 and Sony A6400 side by side immediately underscores their divergent philosophies.

The Panasonic FP7 is compact and lightweight, with dimensions just 101x59x18 mm and weighing a mere 147 grams. Its simple, pocket-friendly design aims at grab-and-go shooting for casual users or travelers not wishing to lug a bulky setup. That thin profile has its advantages if ultimate portability is your priority.

In contrast, the Sony a6400 is a much more substantial camera at 120x67x50 mm and 403 grams, sporting a robust metal-and-plastic body with a warm grip. This 'rangefinder-style' mirrorless camera fits naturally in hand, with logically placed controls and a large tilting touchscreen. Its more serious design reflects its role as a versatile tool for enthusiasts and professionals.

This size and shape contrast is illustrated clearly from a top-down perspective:

Ergonomically, the Sony’s button layout, dials, and customizable function keys support rapid changes - a necessity in dynamic shooting situations. Meanwhile, the Panasonic offers minimal manual control, no dedicated dials, and nothing close to the physical customization options of the a6400.

• Panasonic FP7: Best for users valuing mobility and simplicity over control.
• Sony a6400: Designed for photographers who demand precision and flexibility.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Of course, sensor performance remains the ultimate foundation for image quality. Here, the gap widens considerably:

The FP7 uses a 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring just 6.08 x 4.56 mm, with 16 megapixels. This tiny sensor - common in ultracompact cameras - delivers decent images in good light but struggles as ISO climbs or detail demands intensify. Optical low-pass filtering (anti-aliasing) slightly softens detail in exchange for moiré control.

By contrast, the Sony a6400 features a much larger APS-C sized CMOS sensor at 23.5 x 15.6 mm, 24 megapixels in resolution, and advanced backside-illuminated design. The a6400 also supports RAW image capture, essential for professional-quality post-processing. In testing, this sensor delivered superb dynamic range - approximately 13.6 EV stops per DxOMark - and excellent color depth of 24 bits, vastly exceeding the FP7’s capabilities.

The practical takeaway: The Sony produces sharper images with richer tonal gradations, better low-light performance (native ISO up to 32,000 vs. FP7’s 6400 max), and finer details retained in shadows and highlights.

For landscape or studio work, where image fidelity is paramount, the a6400 blows the compact FP7 out of the water. But for casual snapshots or social media posts under good lighting, the FP7 is still capable.

LCDs, Viewfinders, and User Interface

A camera’s screen and viewfinder technology are hugely important to how easily it integrates into your shooting style.

The Panasonic FP7 features a large but modest 3.5” fixed touchscreen with only 230k pixels. It enables touch-to-focus functionality but suffers from limited resolution and visibility in bright sunlight. Crucially, there is no electronic viewfinder (EVF), so composing without direct eye-level framing can be challenging in some situations.

The Sony a6400 offers a sharp 3.0” tilting touchscreen with 922k-dot resolution, offering excellent clarity and touch responsiveness including intuitive focus point selection and menu navigation. Even more valuable is the built-in electronic viewfinder with 2.35M dots, 100% coverage, and 0.7x magnification that allows for traditional eye-level framing in bright environments.

Here’s a visual comparison illustrating the difference in rear screen and interface:

Simply put, the Sony is far more advanced for composing shots, especially outdoors or in fast-paced environments. The FP7’s stripped-back interface reflects its positioning as a no-fuss camera but limiting for users wanting precise framing feedback.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

In hands-on testing, a camera’s autofocus system often makes or breaks its usability depending on subject matter.

The Panasonic FP7 employs contrast-detection autofocus with 11 points and face detection but lacks phase-detection or eye/A.I. driven focusing. Continuous autofocus is not available, which limits tracking moving subjects.

Meanwhile, the Sony a6400 features a hybrid autofocus system combining 425 phase-detection points (covering 84% of the sensor) with 425 contrast-detection points. This results in extremely fast, accurate autofocus acquisition and remarkable subject tracking capabilities - including Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals. Continuous AF at 11 frames per second burst rate ensures tack-sharp images when shooting dynamic scenes such as sports or wildlife.

These metrics present a decisive contrast:

• Panasonic FP7: Slow autofocus with limited tracking; best suited to static subjects.
• Sony a6400: Class-leading autofocus system ideal for fast-moving subjects and critical focus precision.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Mechanics

The FP7 can shoot at up to 4 frames per second (fps) - not unreasonable for an ultracompact from 2011 - but without autofocus continuous adjustment during bursts, many images will miss the mark when the subject moves.

In stark contrast, the Sony a6400 impresses with 11 fps burst shooting, all with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking via an electronic shutter option that eliminates mechanical noise. Shutter speeds range from a slow 30 seconds to a fast 1/4000 sec, enabling freezing of very fast action or creative long exposures.

This superiority in speed, exposure flexibility, and silent operation dramatically broadens shooting versatility for professional and enthusiast photographers.

Lens Ecosystem and Creative Flexibility

Let’s talk about lenses because a fixed-lens camera and a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera live in different worlds here.

The Panasonic FP7 features one fixed 35-140mm equivalent zoom lens (F3.5-5.9). This modest range provides convenience but compromises optical quality, especially at long zoom and wide apertures. Macro focusing down to 10 cm offers some close-up fun, but with limited depth control due to aperture restrictions.

The Sony a6400 utilizes the vast Sony E-mount lens system comprising over 120 native lenses - from super fast primes to long telephotos, ultra-wides, macros, and professional zooms. This breadth grants photographers precise creative control over perspective, brightness, depth of field, and image quality.

The versatility of the Sony mount cannot be overstated - for portraiture, sports, wildlife, or macro, a well-matched lens can dramatically improve results and flexibility.

Fieldwork: Portrait, Landscape, Wildlife, and More

Let’s put these cameras to work across major photography disciplines to observe where strengths and weaknesses emerge.

Portrait Photography:
The Sony a6400 is a clear winner. Its larger sensor delivers creamy bokeh and accurate skin tones, supported by Real-time Eye AF locking focus on subjects’ eyes - even in motion. You can select aperture priority or manual control to manage depth of field precisely. The FP7’s smaller sensor and slower lens limit background separation and detail rendering, though face detection helps casual portrait framing.

Landscape Photography:
Dynamic range and resolution matter heavily here. The a6400’s 24MP sensor reveals fine textures and preserves highlight/shadow details, while the FP7 can produce decent JPEGs but with softer details and narrower tonality. Additionally, Sony’s weather-sealed body is better suited for harsh outdoor conditions. The FP7 lacks environmental sealing, restricting use in rain or dusty conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography:
Without a doubt, the Sony excels. Fast burst rates combined with rapid, intelligent AF tracking (including animal eye focus) enable capturing fleeting moments with sharpness and clarity. The FP7’s slower AF, lack of continuous autofocus, and limited zoom reduce its utility.

Street Photography:
Here, the smaller Panasonic FP7’s pocketability shines. Its discreet size and quiet operation make it unobtrusive - ideal for candid street shots. However, the Sony’s compact APS-C mirrorless form is still quite manageable, and its faster lens options and better low-light performance make it a strong candidate. The tilting screen can also aid tricky angles.

Macro Photography:
The Sony benefits from an array of macro lenses with image stabilization and fast apertures. The FP7’s 10 cm focusing capability lets you get close but suffers from limited aperture control and lack of stabilization.

Night and Astro Photography:
Low-light sensitivity and long-exposure options tip the scales to the Sony a6400. Its ISO performance, sensor size, and sensor noise management produce cleaner nighttime images with more detail. The FP7 can struggle with noise and limited exposure control in these scenarios.

Panasonic FP7 front Panasonic FP7 screen back Sony A6400 front Sony A6400 screen back

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills

Video is often a make-or-break feature in modern cameras, so here’s how these two compare.

The Panasonic FP7 shoots video at a maximum of 1280x720 (720p) at 24 fps, in Motion JPEG format. This is serviceable for casual video but lacks modern codec efficiencies and higher resolutions.

Sony’s a6400, however, supports 4K UHD video at 30p with a high bitrate (up to 100 Mbps), using advanced XAVC S codec. It also offers full HD 1080p up to 120 fps for slow motion, and features like zebra stripes, focus peaking, and S-Log color profiles for professional post-production flexibility. Although the a6400 lacks in-body image stabilization, its large lens selection includes options with optical stabilization.

Audio-wise, the Sony includes a 3.5mm microphone input for quality sound capture - a crucial professional feature the FP7 sorely lacks.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

One area where size and complexity tradeoffs become apparent is battery longevity.

The Panasonic FP7 offers approximately 240 shots per charge, which is average for compacts but may require carrying spares if shooting extensively.

The Sony a6400 improves on this substantially with about 410 frames per charge, though mirrorless cameras generally consume more power, so plan on extras or portable charging options for days of heavy use.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; the Sony’s accept UHS-I speeds. The FP7 has no wireless connectivity, limiting instant sharing options.

The a6400 includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing remote control, image transfer, and tethered shooting via Sony’s apps for streamlined workflow integration.

Toughness and Weather Sealing

If you routinely shoot outdoors or in challenging conditions, build quality and weather resistance are essential.

The FP7 lacks any weather sealing or environmental protection. Its lightweight plastic body offers minimal robustness.

Sony engineered the a6400 with a magnesium alloy frame and sturdy polycarbonate shell, along with dust and moisture resistance for confidence during inclement weather shooting.

This resilience further positions the a6400 as a more serious tool for demanding fieldwork.

Pricing and Value Assessment

Currently, the Panasonic FP7 remains a budget-friendly option around $230, reflecting its age and entry-level design. It suits non-critical everyday photography and travelers valuing ultra-compact form.

Meanwhile, the Sony a6400 retails for about $900 body-only, a mid-tier price reflecting pro-level features, modern autofocus, and excellent image quality. Given its lean towards advanced enthusiasts and professionals, this is a reasonable investment.

Here’s a quick overall performance rating for each based on comprehensive testing:

And a breakdown by photographic discipline:

In Summary – Which Camera is Right for You?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FP7 if:

• You want a truly pocketable and simple camera without fuss or extra features.
• Your shooting is mostly casual snapshots in good light.
• Budget constraints are paramount and advanced control isn’t necessary.
• You prioritize portability over professional image quality or versatility.

Choose the Sony Alpha a6400 if:

• You seek a hybrid camera capable of professional-quality images and video.
• You require fast, reliable autofocus and a comprehensive lens ecosystem.
• You shoot a wide range of photography genres from portraits to wildlife.
• Durability, weather sealing, and connectivity are important to your workflow.
• You want future-proofing in a camera system with RAW and 4K video.

Final Thoughts from the Field

In my experience testing thousands of cameras over the years, the Panasonic FP7 feels like a snapshot-era compact trying to stay relevant in a smartphone-dominated world. It can be fun and convenient but limited fundamentally by its sensor and lens.

Conversely, the Sony a6400 speaks to the modern generation of mirrorless enthusiasts seeking a balanced tool that delivers pro-grade output without the heft or complexity of full-frame systems. It impresses in autofocus speed, image quality, and versatility, backed by a massive lens catalogue and strong video functions.

If I had to recommend a single camera today for the majority of photographers serious about image quality and creative control, the a6400 is a clear winner. However, for casual photographers wanting effortless portability, the FP7 remains an honorable, if dated, option.

If you have any questions on how these cameras perform in specific situations or want lens recommendations for the Sony system, feel free to ask. I’m here to help you find the perfect gear for your photographic journey.