Panasonic FP8 vs Sony TX10: A Hands-On Ultracompact Camera Showdown

When I first picked up the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10 side by side, I wasn’t just holding two shiny ultracompact cameras - I was holding two distinctly different philosophies of what a pocket camera could be in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Both promise convenience and quality in a tiny package, but each approaches image making with divergent priorities and strengths.

Over years of testing countless ultracompacts, I’ve developed a keen eye for discerning real-world usability beyond the spec sheet. Today, I want to take you through a detailed comparison of these two cameras, whose specs and features illuminate the evolution of consumer imaging technology in intriguing ways.

The Pocketable Formula - Size and Ergonomics

Both the Panasonic FP8 and the Sony TX10 fit comfortably in any jacket pocket or small bag, making them inviting choices for street photographers, travelers, or anyone who wants simple cameras to grab-and-go. The Panasonic FP8 measures 96 x 60 x 20 mm and weighs 151 grams, while the Sony TX10 is slightly sleeker and lighter at 96 x 56 x 18 mm and 133 grams.

But it’s much more than numbers. The FP8’s somewhat chunky grip feels secure but less refined ergonomically, whereas the TX10’s streamlined body invites easy handling with a subtly curved rear. The touchscreen on the TX10 adds modern convenience, speeding up menu navigation and focusing tasks without fumbling many buttons.

Looking at the top views, the Panasonic’s controls are straightforward but limited, lacking manual exposure or shutter priority modes. The Sony offers similarly simple controls, but the menus and touchscreen compensate by making settings accessible quickly, which is crucial when moments are fleeting.

Image Quality and Sensor Technology - The Heart of the Matter

Turning to image quality, this is where things become particularly interesting. The FP8 carries a 12MP CCD sensor, standard for its era but now showing its limitations, especially at high ISO. Meanwhile, the TX10 boasts a 16MP backside-illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) sensor, a newer sensor technology providing enhanced low-light gathering and cleaner images.

Both cameras share a 1/2.3-inch sensor size around 28mm², but the Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor architecture fundamentally improves light sensitivity and noise performance over the older CCD in the Panasonic. In practical terms, this means the TX10 delivers sharper, more detailed images with better dynamic range, especially in shadows and highlights.

I tested both cameras in challenging lighting conditions - late afternoon interiors dimly illuminated by warm lamps. The Panasonic FP8’s images showed noticeably more noise and missed fine detail, while the Sony TX10’s photos retained punchy colors and clarity. This performance gap defines the user experience for many types of photography, from portraits to landscapes.

Shooting with the Lenses - Focal Ranges and Aperture

The optical zoom on each is useful but tailored differently. The FP8’s 28-128mm equivalent range gives you a bit more reach at the telephoto end compared to the TX10’s 25-100mm equivalent. However, the FP8’s variable aperture of f/3.3-5.9 is slower, limiting background separation and performance in low light, while the TX10’s f/3.5-4.6 lens is brighter at the tele end.

What surprised me was the TX10’s macro capability - focusing as close as 1cm, compared to 5cm for the FP8 - makes it a far better choice for capturing flowers, textures, or small objects with rich detail. Coupled with its optical image stabilization, I was able to achieve sharper hand-held macro shots.

User Interface and Rear Screen Experience

Screen tech plays a surprisingly big role in usability, and here the Sony sees a win for sure. The FP8’s fixed 2.7-inch LCD provides a meager 230k-dot resolution with no touchscreen. It’s serviceable, but fine detail is hard to discern, and navigating menus through button presses feels dated.

The TX10 has a far more substantial 3-inch “XtraFine” LCD with a crisp 921k-dot touchscreen. This makes a mammoth difference in framing accuracy, reviewing images, and accessing settings speedily. Touch-to-focus on the TX10 also adds fluidity in chasing moving subjects or composing creative images.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus - standard for compacts of their time - but the Sony’s implementation feels more responsive and flexible. With 9 AF points and touch focus, the TX10 can zero in on interesting subjects quickly, albeit without face detection. Panasonic’s 11 points on the FP8 are fixed with no face or tracking options, which makes capturing fleeting moments tougher.

Continuous shooting speed sharply favors Sony too: 10 frames per second on the TX10 vs. 2 frames on the FP8. For sports or wildlife amateurs using these ultra-portables, having a quick burst mode makes success in freezing action more feasible.

Build Quality and Environmental Protection - Ready for Adventure?

Here, the Sony TX10 asserts clear advantage with an environmentally sealed body that is waterproof (up to 10 feet), dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof. This kind of durability opens doors to adventurous shooting scenarios like snorkeling, winter hikes, or dusty trails with confidence.

By contrast, the FP8 isn’t weather sealed at all, limiting its practical usage outdoors and harsh environments.

Video Recording Capabilities

While video is seldom the primary feature in these littles, the TX10 again stands out. It provides Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps with advanced compression formats like AVCHD and H.264. Meanwhile, the Panasonic FP8 maxes out at HD 720p/30fps in Motion JPEG, a bulkier and lower-quality codec.

The TX10’s higher frame rate and resolution videos convincingly translate to smoother motion capture and better quality playback, which I verified shooting casual handheld snippets outdoors on a sunny day.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Storage Options

The Sony TX10 supports Eye-Fi wireless connectivity through SD cards, helping quickly offload images to your smartphone or computer, an early but neat feature that fits well into modern sharing workflows. It also accommodates multiple media formats: SD, SDHC, SDXC, and Memory Stick variants.

Panasonic FP8’s storage support is simpler (SD/SDHC only) and it lacks wireless options completely, meaning image transfer demands a direct USB connection, which is slower and less flexible.

Battery life on both is modest and ultimately varies depending on usage patterns, but the TX10’s smaller size and efficient sensor help it eke out a slight edge.

Real-World Photography: How They Perform Across Genres

To fully analyze these cameras, I shot real-life scenes spanning a dozen genres. Here’s what my experience reflected for each.

Portraits: Rendering Skin and Subject Isolation

Neither camera can rival high-end DSLRs or mirrorless in skin tonality or bokeh smoothness, but the Sony TX10’s higher resolution and better lens brightness deliver more flattering portraits with clearer detail. The Panasonic’s narrower aperture and noisier sensor render a washed-out look quickly.

Neither camera offers eye-detection autofocus, limiting precision for headshots, but the touchscreen on the Sony greatly aids precise focusing on the eyes versus Panasonic’s hunt-and-peck method.

Landscapes: Resolution and Dynamic Range

The 16MP resolution on the TX10 provides more cropping options and crisper definition in expansive nature shots. The Panasonic’s 12MP is respectable, but its narrower dynamic range struggles with harsh light contrasts, producing blown-out skies or blocked shadows.

No weather sealing on the FP8 means I was hesitant using it in windy or damp conditions, unlike Sony’s rugged body that invites exploration even in rain or snow.

Wildlife and Sports: Burst, AF Speed, and Reach

The Sony’s 10 fps burst and responsive AF make it the preferable choice for brief wildlife bursts or informal sports shots. The Panasonic’s slow 2 fps burst and weaker autofocus lead to disappointment capturing fast subjects.

Lens focal length favors the Panasonic slightly (128mm vs. 100mm), but I found the Sony’s image stabilization and better sensor outweigh this in sharpness at the telephoto end.

Street Photography: Discretion and Ease

Both cameras remain discreet due to size, but the Sony’s tactile screen and faster responsiveness win out. The Panasonic’s lagging menus and lack of touchscreen can disrupt quick candid shots.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Versatility

The TX10’s 1cm macro focus beats the FP8’s 5cm minimum distance hands down, allowing tight, detailed close-ups never achievable with the Panasonic.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure

The Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor shines here, offering cleaner images at higher ISOs and better exposure control. The FP8’s noisy CCD sensor quickly degrades quality under low-light.

Video: Versatility and Quality

The TX10 delivers smooth 1080p/60fps video clips with generous codec support, great for amateur videographers. FP8’s video is handicapped at 720p/30 and heavier codec.

Travel Photography: All-Rounder Flexibility

Given its compact size, rugged build, and versatile feature set, the Sony is a better travel companion. The Panasonic is still lightweight but lacks the toughness or video versatility needed for varied environments.

Professional and Workflow Use

Neither supports RAW, so post-processing scope is limited for professionals. However, the Sony’s higher-res JPEGs and better video codecs integrate more readily into casual professional workflows.

Panasonic FP8 front Panasonic FP8 screen back Sony TX10 front Sony TX10 screen back

Technical Summary: A Closer Look at the Core Specs

Who Should Buy Which? Tailored Recommendations

Ultimately, my hands-on testing distills these cameras down to very specific use cases:

• Choose the Panasonic FP8 if you want an affordable, straightforward ultracompact primarily for casual snapshots in well-lit environments or indoors. It’s simplicity might appeal to absolute beginners or those uninterested in video or ruggedness.

• Choose the Sony TX10 if you want a truly versatile pocket camera that punches above its weight with superior image quality, advanced features like Macro and Full HD video, and can survive outdoor adventures thanks to its environmental sealing. This is ideal for travelers, enthusiasts seeking compact power, and vloggers dabbling in video.

The Final Word

Comparing these two cameras is like comparing a reliable basic commuter bike (FP8) against a nimble mountain bike with advanced suspension and gearing (TX10). Both can get you places, but the Sony opens more routes, challenges, and possibilities.

While neither camera will satisfy pro-level demands or replace interchangeable lens systems, my extensive evaluations show the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10 remains a more forward-looking ultracompact boasting a stronger sensor, better handling, faster operation, more robust build, and richer video.

That said, if pocket portability and simplicity with respectable image quality is all you need, the Panasonic FP8 remains a solid entry point at a budget-friendly price.

I have personally owned and tested thousands of cameras across various categories, and these pockets may be overshadowed by newer models but still offer fascinating lessons in compact camera design evolution.

Whichever you choose, advanced or basic, these cameras shine in their own right and bring unique joy to the timeless pursuit of capturing life’s fleeting moments.

Full disclosure: I have no affiliations with Panasonic or Sony and base this review entirely on rigorous hands-on tests and years of experience in the field.