Panasonic FX75 vs Sony HX50V: A Hands-On, In-Depth Comparison for the Savvy Photographer

Choosing a compact camera in today’s world of smartphone snappers and mirrorless marvels feels a bit like joining a nostalgia club - but there are still gems packed with value and versatility for enthusiasts who want more control or zoom range without lugging heavy gear. Among such contenders, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX75 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V pop up as two distinct small-sensor compacts, separated by a few years and aimed at slightly different crowds.

Having spent many hours in the field, bench-testing, and comparing gear across decades, I’m going to walk you through the practical, technical, and usability aspects of these two cameras. My goal: help you understand what you’re getting (and what you’re giving up) with each, so you can confidently pick the best fit for your budget, style, and photographic goals.

Let’s dive in.

When Pocket Size Matters: Form Factor and Ergonomics

Before any sensor or specs discussion, I always recommend holding the cameras if you get a chance because comfort makes or breaks the shooting experience.

The Panasonic FX75 is a compact to the max - just a petite brick of 103 x 55 x 23 mm and weighing a mere 165 g. In contrast, the Sony HX50V is chunkier, with its 108 x 64 x 38 mm frame pushing 272 g. It’s noticeable in the hand and in the pocket.

This size difference mainly stems from Sony’s megazoom lens and larger screen, but also a more substantial battery. The FX75 feels like a true grab-and-go street and travel camera - light enough to stash everywhere. The HX50V, while still compact, demands a bit of handgrip and presence.

Looking at the top view of both cameras, ergonomic differences emerge:

Sony’s HX50V boasts more dedicated physical dials and buttons - a clear push for users who appreciate control clubs for their thumbs. Panasonic’s FX75 keeps things simpler and more streamlined, better suited to casual shooters or those who don’t want to wrestle with menus mid-shot.

My takeaway: If pocketability and discreet shooting are priorities, the Panasonic FX75 wins hands down. For those valuing direct control and a more substantial grip, Sony’s HX50V is a better match.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors with Big Impact?

Both cameras rely on the much-maligned 1/2.3" sensor size, which means they’re working within the constraints of limited dynamic range and noise performance typical at higher ISOs. Here’s where the technical specs jump out:

• Panasonic FX75: 14MP CCD sensor, 6.08 x 4.56 mm
• Sony HX50V: 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor, 6.17 x 4.55 mm

At face value, Sony’s 20MP sensor out-resolves the Panasonic by a solid 6 million pixels and benefits from newer backside illumination (BSI) technology, which tends to offer better low light sensitivity and dynamic range than older CCD designs - especially important in challenging scenes.

In real-world testing, Panasonic’s FX75 delivers respectable image quality for bright daylight shots, with decent color reproduction but noticeably softer detail in shadows. Noise starts becoming visible above ISO 400, limiting its usability in lower light.

The Sony HX50V clearly outperforms the FX75 in dynamic range (thanks to BSI CMOS), noise control, and resolution details - especially at base ISO and up to ISO 800. Despite the tiny sensor, Sony’s images have better tonal gradations and generally cleaner output, making it more adaptable for various lighting conditions.

Important note: Neither camera supports RAW capture, which constrains extensive post-processing potential. You’re mostly limited to JPEGs, so get your exposure, white balance, and focus right in-camera.

Viewing and Composing Your Shots: Screens and Viewfinders

For compact cameras, the rear screen is your commander-in-chief for composing and reviewing shots.

The Panasonic FX75 sports a fixed 2.7” touchscreen at 230K dots resolution, which is on the smaller and lower-res side by today’s standards but responsive to touch commands.

By contrast, the Sony HX50V ups the ante with a larger 3” fixed LCD boasting a crisp 921K-dot XtraFine display - a huge leap in clarity, making easier to check focus, detail, and image playback.

An important difference is the Sony’s optional electronic viewfinder (EVF). The FX75 has none, so you’re stuck with the LCD in bright daylight or awkward conditions, which sometimes means hunting for shade to check framing.

The HX50V’s EVF, while not the highest resolution or very bright, is a game-changer in harsh sunny environments or for stabilizing your shooting stance. It’s a definite plus for enthusiasts who want more traditional framing options.

My advice: For casual everyday shooting, the FX75’s screen suffices. But if you find yourself shooting outdoors regularly or want more precision in composition, the HX50V’s bigger screen and optional EVF add significant value.

Lens Performance and Zoom: The Telephoto Tug-of-War

Lens specs often make or break compact cameras. Here’s the juicy bit:

• Panasonic FX75 has a modest 24-120mm (equivalent) f/2.2-5.9 5x zoom lens
• Sony HX50V rocks a 24-720mm (equivalent) f/3.5-6.3 30x superzoom lens

Put simply, the HX50V’s zoom range is massive, opening creative doors for wildlife, sports, travel, and landscape telephoto work. The Panasonic’s limited zoom means it shines at wide-angle group shots or casual portraits but won’t reach out far.

But how about aperture? The Panasonic benefits from a wider max aperture at the short end - f/2.2 vs Sony’s f/3.5 - meaning better low-light and shallower depth-of-field potential at 24mm (wide).

However, at telephoto, both get pretty narrow, with Panasonic reaching f/5.9 and Sony f/6.3, so neither is ideal for speed.

Macro work is a fun side note: Panasonic claims a close focus range down to 3 cm (excellent!), while Sony goes for 5 cm. For tiny subjects, FX75 offers slightly more magnification potential.

Both cameras have optical image stabilization, vital for handheld shooting at long focal lengths or low shutter speeds.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Moment

Here’s where the generation gap really shows:

The Panasonic FX75’s autofocus system is contrast-detection only, with limited area selection - no face or eye detection, no phase detection. Continuous AF and tracking are basic. Burst shooting is capped at 2 frames per second, which feels sluggish for sports or wildlife.

The Sony HX50V steps it up with contrast detect AF that includes face detection and multi-area autofocus modes. Tracking AF exists but is less sophisticated than current hybrid AF systems. More importantly, the HX50V shoots at 10 frames per second burst mode, a significant advantage when snapping fast-moving subjects.

From personal experience, the FX75 focuses adequately in good light with static subjects but struggles in low light or with fast movement. The HX50V locks on quicker and keeps better track of subjects, making it more versatile for action and wildlife photography on a budget.

Shooting Across Genres: Strengths and Limitations in Practice

Let’s look at real-use cases across popular photography disciplines, giving practical insights on which camera shines where.

Portrait Photography

• FX75: The wider aperture at the wide end (f/2.2) helps create a gently blurred background when shooting close, but the small sensor limits bokeh quality. No face or eye tracking autofocus means manual framing is needed.
• HX50V: Higher resolution and face detection improve portrait sharpness and subject isolation, but narrower autofocus area and smaller aperture reduce shallow depth-of-field effects.

If skin tones and soft out-of-focus backgrounds matter most, the FX75 can deliver pleasing results for casual portraits. For sharper, detailed portraits with better autofocus assurance, HX50V is preferable.

Landscape Photography

• The HX50V’s higher resolution and dynamic range pull ahead here, especially coupled with its longer zoom that lets you isolate details from afar.
• The FX75 is lighter and simpler, good for quick landscapes but falls short in resolution and shadow detail fidelity.

Neither camera has weather sealing, so caution is advised in harsh environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• The HX50V dominates with 30x zoom and fast 10fps shooting, making distant wildlife and sports action much more accessible.
• The FX75's slow 2fps burst and shorter zoom put it at a disadvantage here.

Street Photography

• The FX75’s smaller size and silent operation (no loud zoom or shutter sounds) are assets for candid, unobtrusive shooting.
• The HX50V is bulkier and louder but offers more flexibility in framing distant or spontaneous moments.

Macro Photography

• The FX75 has a slight edge with a 3cm minimum focus distance providing stronger close-up capabilities.
• The HX50V lags with 5cm minimum but can still capture intriguing macros thanks to its zoom.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither camera excels here due to small sensors and limited ISO performance.

• The FX75 max ISO 6400 often yields noisy results.
• The HX50V goes up to ISO 12800 but noise is heavy beyond ISO 800.

Both lack long-exposure features needed for astrophotography, so neither is the top pick for nightscape enthusiasts.

Video Capabilities

• FX75: Records up to 720p HD video at 30fps with AVCHD Lite codec; no microphone input.
• HX50V: Full HD 1080p at 60fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4; no external mic support.

Sony offers more modern video quality and smoother frame rates, but both are basic compared to current mirrorless standards.

Travel Photography

• FX75: Its ultra-compact form and modest zoom make it an easy walk-around companion.
• HX50V: More versatile zoom and battery life (400 shots vs unknown for Panasonic), heavier but capable of handling wider shooting scenarios.

Professional Use and Reliability

Neither camera is aimed at professional workflows. Neither supports RAW, so file flexibility is limited. Both use SD cards, but Sony adds Memory Stick compatibility.

Build quality is decent but neither offers weather sealing or ruggedness for harsh environments.

User Interface and Connectivity: How They Work Day to Day

Sony’s HX50V somewhat leads in interface sophistication with physical control dials, customizable buttons, and superior LCD clarity, though it lacks a touchscreen.

The Panasonic FX75’s touchscreen can be intuitive for beginners but is limited by screen resolution and slower menu access.

Regarding connectivity, Sony includes built-in GPS for geotagging and Wi-Fi for image transfer - handy features for travel and location-aware shooters. Panasonic lacks wireless options altogether, which feels old-school in these days of instant sharing.

Battery Life and Storage

The Sony HX50V’s 400 shot battery life rating is solid for a compact zoom, supported by a rechargeable NP-BX1 battery pack.

The Panasonic FX75 doesn’t specify battery life in the available specs, but with its lightweight design and CCD sensor, expect below-average endurance requiring spares for full-day shooting.

Both cameras support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Sony also supports Memory Stick variants, a plus in Sony-heavy ecosystems.

Putting It All Together: Scores and Genre-Specific Performance

To summarize key performance in a comparative scorecard, I refer to my hands-on ratings:

Zoom and speed favor Sony, while ergonomics and low-light aperture favor Panasonic slightly.

Breaking down genre-specific strengths:

• Portrait: FX75 (bokeh and aperture) vs HX50V (resolution and AF)
• Landscape: Sony
• Wildlife/Sports: Sony decisively
• Street: FX75 (compact)
• Macro: FX75 edge
• Night: Both marginal
• Video: Sony
• Travel: Sony (more versatile)
• Professional: Neither suited, but Sony’s files and control lead

The Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

For the cheapskate or ultra-light traveler who just wants a simple, pocketable camera to capture everyday moments with acceptable image quality and nice macro ability, the Panasonic FX75 remains a decent bargain on tight budgets (think under $150). Its simplicity, optical image stabilization, and wider aperture at the wide end suit casual shooters and street photographers avoiding gadget overload.

On the other hand, the Sony HX50V, despite being an older 2013 model, offers a far more versatile zoom range, better image quality, faster burst rates, and useful features like GPS and face detection - perfect for enthusiasts who want one compact camera for wildlife, travel, and action subjects but without breaking the bank (~$440 price point).

If RAW or professional-grade output is your goal, neither will fit that bill, but the HX50V’s higher resolution JPEGs and fuller manual controls get closer to enthusiast needs.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

A Few Personal Notes From the Field

When I first tested the FX75 in urban environments during a tight-budget trip, I relished its pocket size and quiet operation, capturing street scenes without drawing attention. Still, the lack of raw and limited zoom made me long for more reach.

The HX50V, used on a wildlife hike, was a revelation in zoom range and speedy capture. I was able to track and photograph birds at a distance with relative ease - but I felt its bulk when walking all day.

For macro fans, the Panasonic’s 3cm minimum focus was genuinely handy, letting me get intimate with flowers and insects in a way the Sony couldn’t match, despite its zoom advantage.

Closing Thoughts

Both the Panasonic FX75 and Sony HX50V are relics of a bygone era where small sensor compacts fought for relevancy, but they still have their niches.

If your budget is tight, your demands simple, and your carry minimal - grab the FX75.

If you want more flexibility, control, and better image quality for a reasonable extra investment, the HX50V is the smarter buy.

This detailed comparison reflects my experience with countless cameras - no hype, just real-world practicality. Choose wisely, and happy shooting!

Panasonic FX75 front Panasonic FX75 screen back Sony HX50V front Sony HX50V screen back