Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 vs Samsung WB150F: A Hands-On Comparison for the Practical Photographer

If you’re a photography enthusiast or a seasoned pro hunting for a compact camera that balances versatility, ease of use, and value, comparing the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 and the Samsung WB150F is a smart way to start. Both cameras hail from the small sensor compact class, designed to squeeze maximum performance into pocket-friendly bodies, yet they take somewhat different approaches. I’ve spent considerable time with both, pushing their limits across various photography disciplines, and today I’ll share my hands-on impressions, technical insights, and practical verdicts from someone who’s shot thousands of frames.

Physical size and ergonomics comparison between Panasonic FX700 and Samsung WB150F.

Let’s dig in - starting with the basics of size, handling, and feel.

Ergonomics and Design: Comfort & Controls on the Go

Looking at these two through my usual camera-handling lens, the Panasonic FX700 and Samsung WB150F are close enough in size to slide comfortably into a jacket or large pants pocket, but subtle differences affect grip and ease of use.

• Panasonic FX700 is slightly more compact at 104x56x25mm and lighter at 176g, boasting a sleek, rounded body with a minimalist control layout. The 3-inch touchscreen (although only 230k dots resolution) provides a tactile, modern interface. If you’re used to tapping around on your smartphone, the FX700’s touchscreen is a refreshing addition - even if somewhat basic.

• Samsung WB150F, by comparison, measures 107x61x23mm and weighs 188g. It lacks a touchscreen but features a higher resolution 3-inch TFT LCD at 460k dots, making for a crisp and vivid viewing experience. The physical buttons and dials fall nicely under the fingers, though the layout isn’t as streamlined.

Top view showing control layouts; observe how button placement favors quick access on each model.

Panasonic’s interface leans more toward minimalism, geared towards users who aren’t overwhelmed by menus. Samsung’s physical buttons, meanwhile, give that old-school photographer’s feel - think tactile feedback, so you’re never fumbling for controls in a hurry.

Weight-wise, both cameras are featherweights. The FX700 might appeal to travel shooters or street photographers looking to carry light without sacrificing basic controls. Samsung’s chunkier grip could suit those seeking steadier handling during telephoto shooting.

Sensor and Image Quality: What’s Under the Hood?

At the core of every camera is its sensor, and the Panasonic FX700 and Samsung WB150F pack very similar 14MP sensors in the usual 1/2.3-inch size bracket. Yet the devil’s in the details:

Sensor specifications and image quality considerations for both compacts.

• Panasonic FX700 sports a CMOS sensor paired with the Venus Engine FHD processor. This combo is well-known in Panasonic’s compact line for moderately good noise control and decent dynamic range, especially in bright conditions. The max ISO tops off at 6400, although image quality beyond ISO 400 starts dropping into noisy territory.

• Samsung WB150F opts for a CCD sensor with a max ISO of 3200. CCD sensors historically excel at color reproduction and noise control at base ISOs but tend to struggle more at higher sensitivities. In my tests, the WB150F delivered slightly richer colors at base ISO and better shadow detail in bright light but showed more noise creeping in above ISO 400.

Technically, the CMOS on FX700 provides better power efficiency and slightly faster readout speeds, essential for video and continuous shooting, whereas the CCD in WB150F offers more ‘pop’ in colors but with a caveat of limited sensitivity.

In terms of resolution, Samsung’s max 4608x3456 pixels edge out Panasonic’s 4320x3240 pixels - but in real-world prints, this difference is negligible.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility vs. Optical Speed

This is the first major divergence - and it matters a lot to photographers with a particular style.

• Panasonic FX700 is outfitted with a 24-120mm equivalent focal range, offering a 5x optical zoom. Its faster maximum aperture of f/2.2 at wide angle gives it a substantial edge in low-light situations and the ability to create more pronounced background blur for portraits. The macro focus distance down to 3cm is pretty impressive for a compact.

• Samsung WB150F offers an 18x zoom range from 24-432mm equivalent, giving far more reach but a slightly slower max aperture of f/3.2 at the wide end, which closes down to f/5.8 at telephoto. If you’re into wildlife or sports shooting from a distance without lugging a DSLR, this superzoom lens is the major selling point. The macro distance is 5cm, reflective of its longer zoom design.

Samsung’s telephoto reach is great for cheapskates who want to keep their zoom options wide without splurging on bulky cameras and lenses. However, the slower aperture does limit low-light telephoto performance and bokeh quality.

Personally, I found Panasonic’s lens more enjoyable for portraits, street, and travel shooting - where aperture speed and handling bokeh matter - while Samsung offers an all-in-one solution for capturing distant subjects without swapping lenses.

Autofocus & Shooting Experience: Accuracy and Speed

In my real-world testing for various photography scenarios, autofocus performance often makes or breaks the user experience.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF, which is typical for compacts but notably slower than phase-detection autofocus systems in DSLRs and mirrorless.

• Panasonic FX700’s autofocus is single-point only, no continuous tracking, and reasonably quick in good light. Its contrast-detection system struggles in low light and with moving subjects, but it has manual focus to help when needed.

• Samsung WB150F includes face detection and an improved multi-area autofocus system with center-weighted priority. It also provides a surprisingly effective AF tracking mode for moving subjects, albeit still basic compared to higher-end cameras. This makes Samsung more versatile for casual sports or kids playing scenarios.

Continuous shooting speeds match: both at 10fps in burst mode. In practice, buffer depth and write speeds mean neither camera sustains this frame rate for very long. Both are best viewed as casual burst shooters rather than profession-grade sports cameras.

Display and User Interface: Clear Visibility or Touch Convenience?

Since framing and reviewing your shots is crucial, the rear screen is your window into the camera’s soul.

Back screen and interface comparison highlights Samsung’s superior resolution but Panasonic’s touchscreen.

• The Panasonic FX700 has a 3-inch, fixed-type touchscreen LCD, but at only 230k dots, it’s a bit dim and less sharp, which may frustrate shooters in bright daylight. That said, the touchscreen interface adds a layer of intuitiveness missing from many compacts of its era.

• The Samsung WB150F sports a brighter, crisper 3-inch TFT LCD at 460k dots but no touch capability. It compensates with more physical controls, which is great for users who prefer buttons and dials over tapping screens.

I’d say if you care about quick tap-to-focus and a smartphone-like user experience, Panasonic’s screen adds value. But for those who want a simple, bright display with buttons to muscle through menus, Samsung’s LCD wins.

Build Quality & Durability: Solid or Fragile?

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedness features like shockproof or freezeproof ratings, which means this pair is more about casual, gentle shoot-and-go use rather than rugged adventure photography.

• Both cameras feel well-constructed for their price points, with no obvious creaks or cheap plastics, but neither inspires confidence for heavy outdoor abuse.

• Weight difference is minimal, and both have fixed lenses, so there’s less chance of mechanical damage from removals.

Video Capabilities: Which One Handles Motion Better?

Both cameras offer video functionality, but they serve quite different purposes.

• The Panasonic FX700 shoots Full HD 1920x1080 video at up to 60fps in AVCHD format. It also has a mini-HDMI output for clean external display, though no microphone or headphone jacks restrict audio quality control.

• The Samsung WB150F tops out at 720p HD at 30fps (using MPEG-4 or H.264 formats). There’s no HDMI out or external audio capability.

Stabilization is optical on both models, helping smooth shaky hands while recording, but Panasonic’s newer Venus Engine process gives it cleaner video with less noise and artifacting in low light.

If video is important to you within this budget class, Panasonic takes the win with higher-res, higher-framerate options and better processing.

Battery Life & Storage: Shooting Duration and Convenience

Battery life info wasn’t clearly specified for either camera in official specs, but based on typical performance of this class and personal experience:

• Expect around 250-300 shots per full charge for Panasonic FX700, slightly less if you use video extensively or the touchscreen often.

• Samsung WB150F, with its CCD sensor and added wireless connectivity, tends to drain faster and may get about 200-250 shots per charge.

Both use standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, enough for quick swapping and plenty of storage flexibility.

Connectivity & Extras: Staying Connected or Cutting Cords?

Here’s where Samsung’s WB150F has a small leg up.

• It features built-in wireless connectivity, allowing basic photo sharing via Wi-Fi - a useful option for casual shooters who want to quickly upload to social media without computers.

• Panasonic FX700 offers USB 2.0 and HDMI ports but lacks wireless features entirely.

Neither camera supports Bluetooth or NFC, which limits seamless smartphone integration, something to consider in the modern photo ecosystem.

Image Samples & Practical Shooting Scenarios

I shot various scenes with these cameras side by side to observe practical outcomes from daylight to dim interiors:

Panasonic FX700 front Panasonic FX700 screen back Samsung WB150F front Samsung WB150F screen back

• Portraits: Panasonic’s brighter aperture (f2.2) and sharper lens edges gave skin tones more natural richness and subtle bokeh, enhancing subject separation. Samsung’s longer zoom was tempting, but slower aperture resulted in more background clutter and harsher rendering.

• Landscape: Samsung’s larger zoom range (24-432mm) made framing distant peaks or urban vistas flexible, but Panasonic’s better dynamic range resulted in cleaner shadows and highlights, making files easier to edit.

• Wildlife & Sports: Here, Samsung’s 18x zoom and AF tracking had a noticeable edge for quick snaps of birds or kids in action. Panasonic struggled to lock focus on fast-moving subjects.

• Street & Travel: Panasonic’s light build and touchscreen made it more enjoyable to carry all day, and the faster lens meant better low-light street shooting without flash. Samsung was less handy but fulfilled telephoto needs.

• Macro: Panasonic’s 3cm macro focus allowed tight close-ups with excellent detail. Samsung was decent at 5cm but less intimate.

• Night and Astro: Both had limited high ISO performance, but Panasonic’s max ISO 6400 and noise reduction handled dim environments marginally better.

Performance Scores & Rankings: Putting it All Together

From an overall standpoint, these cameras share comparable scores with Panasonic edging out for image quality and video, and Samsung scoring for zoom range and connectivity.

Who Should Buy Which? Recommendations Based on Use Cases

I’m often asked, “Which one should I pick?” Here’s my take after extensive hands-on testing:

Pick the Panasonic FX700 if you:

• Prioritize image quality, especially for portraits and low-light shooting
• Want Full HD 1080p video at 60fps with decent stabilization
• Like a touchscreen interface for ease of use
• Value compactness and lightweight handling for travel or street photography
• Shoot macro photos and need close focusing capabilities
• Appreciate slightly better dynamic range and color accuracy

Pick the Samsung WB150F if you:

• Need a superzoom with 18x optical range for wildlife, sports, or travel versatility
• Want built-in Wi-Fi wireless sharing for instant uploads without a PC
• Prefer physical buttons over touchscreens for rapid control access
• Are a casual shooter or beginner who wants an all-in-one zoom without lens changes
• Don’t mind lower video resolution (720p) and more limited low-light performance

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Final Verdict: A Budget-Conscious Choice for Practical Photography

Both cameras offer respectable performance well-suited to the budget-conscious enthusiast who wants a no-fuss compact for everyday use without the bulk of DSLRs.

From my experience testing thousands of cameras, the Panasonic FX700 stands out as the better all-arounder for image quality, interface, and video capabilities. It's a compact powerhouse for portraits, landscapes, macro, and video enthusiasts on a budget.

The Samsung WB150F shines in zoom versatility and wireless convenience, making it ideal for travelers, casual sports, wildlife photographers, or anyone who prioritizes reach over finesse.

Ultimately, your choice should hinge on which strengths serve your photographic passions best. If it's image quality and video with a compact build - go with Panasonic. If zoom range and simplicity with sharing options are paramount - Samsung suits you.

Both will reward you with years of enjoyment shooting everyday moments. Hopefully, this rundown helps you dodge buyer’s remorse and find the camera that clubs best for your thumbs and budget.

Happy shooting!

If you have questions or want to delve deeper into any specific feature or sample image, let me know - I’m always happy to share tests from the field.