Panasonic FX78 vs. Samsung HZ35W: Compact Camera Showdown for the Budget-Conscious Photographer

When it comes to picking a compact camera, especially from the early 2010s crop, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of specs and marketing fluff. As someone who’s bulked up enough mileage testing cameras in real-world conditions - ranging from misty mornings in mountain ranges to the frenzy of a soccer game under stadium lights - I’m here to help you cut through the noise. Today, we’re going head-to-head with two modestly priced compacts: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 (or FX78) and the Samsung HZ35W (also known as WB650). What can you realistically expect from these pocket-sized shooters nearly a decade into their lives? More importantly, which one deserves your hard-earned cash?

Both cameras target enthusiasts and budget-conscious hobbyists who want a lightweight digital companion without lugging around a bulky DSLR or mirrorless rig. We’ll explore every nook and cranny of their features, from sensor capabilities and image quality fundamentals to ergonomics, autofocus, and practical use across popular photography genres.

So buckle up and pour yourself a cup of coffee - let’s break down these compact cameras beyond the spec sheet to see which model is worth your investment.

Size, Build, and Handling: Compactness Meets Usability

Before diving into pixels and apertures, the tactile experience matters. Cameras are tools you’ll hold for hours, poke buttons on, and sometimes wrestle with under challenging conditions.

Physically, both cameras fall within the small sensor compact category, but they approach portability differently.

• Panasonic FX78: Weighing a mere 142g and measuring 100x55x21mm, the FX78 slips into your pocket like a candy bar - small but substantial enough to handle securely. Its slim profile and light weight make it an ideal travel buddy or street photography sidekick.

• Samsung HZ35W: The Samsung is noticeably chunkier at 245g and 107x61x28mm. That extra heft comes with a bigger zoom lens and a chunkier body, which, while less pocket-friendly, allows for a firmer grip - especially useful when shooting at telephoto focal lengths. If you typically shoot handheld and crave steadiness, this might sway your preference.

Handling wise, the FX78 favors simplicity: the body is sleek with minimal clubs for your thumbs, which some may find clean yet a little limiting for extended sessions. The Samsung counteracts with a more pronounced grip and better-separated controls.

From my hands-on, the FX78’s controls lean towards the casual user - no manual focus dial, no aperture priority mode, and no manual exposure options, which limits creative freedom if you like fiddling with settings. The Samsung does better here: you get manual focus, aperture priority, shutter priority, and exposure compensation - significant for photographers wanting more control.

Bottom line: For sheer portability and easy everyday carry, the Panasonic FX78 wins hands down. For ergonomics and manual control, Samsung HZ35W offers a more grown-up feel.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now, it’s time for the nuts and bolts under the hood - the sensor.

Both cameras rely on 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors measuring roughly 6x4.5mm, sporting a 12-megapixel resolution. At this sensor size, you’re dealing with inherent limitations regarding noise performance and dynamic range compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors. Your expectations should be realistic - these cameras excel at daylight and well-lit conditions but struggle when the light fades.

• Panasonic FX78: The sensor records images at up to 4000x3000 pixels with a maximum native ISO of 6400. However, in practice, ISO 6400 is pretty noisy and only advisable for emergencies. The maximum aperture ranges from f/2.5 wide to f/5.9 telephoto, meaning limited low-light performance at the long end of the zoom.

• Samsung HZ35W: Similarly, it’s a 12MP CCD at ISO 80-3200 native. The aperture varies from f/3.2 to f/5.8 across its telezoom range, marginally slower at wide but about the same telephoto aperture as Panasonic. Important: Samsung’s sensor area is almost identical, so expect noise levels to more or less match.

In real-world shooting, I noticed images from both cameras tend to fall into the soft and smoothed-out category typical for compact CCDs, with the Panasonic delivering slightly punchier colors thanks to its Venus Engine FHD processor. Samsung images have a more neutral tone but suffer from more visible noise at ISOs above 400.

Both cameras include an anti-aliasing filter to prevent moiré - important if you’re shooting detailed textures like fabrics or foliage - but this further reduces perceived sharpness.

Neither camera offers RAW support, so you’re locked into JPEGs. For photographers who love post-processing flexibility, that’s a dealbreaker.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Eye on the Prize

How you interact with your camera’s screen in the field can make or break your shooting experience.

The Panasonic FX78 has a 3.5-inch touchscreen TFT LCD with a low resolution of 230k dots. It’s bright enough outdoors, but the low pixel count means images and menus look blocky compared to modern cameras. The touchscreen interface is responsive for focus point selection and navigating menus, which is an advantage over the Samsung in terms of quick usability.

Samsung HZ35W sports a 3-inch non-touch LCD with 614k dots. This higher resolution provides better clarity for framing and reviewing shots, but the lack of touch can feel sluggish if you’re used to tapping through settings.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, which means bright daylight might demand using the rear LCD, sometimes awkwardly.

Autofocus: Hunting or Laser Sharp?

Accurate autofocus is critical, especially in fast-moving scenarios like wildlife or sports.

• Panasonic FX78: Uses contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points. AF modes include continuous, single-shot, and tracking but no face or eye detection. In my tests, AF was fairly snappy in good light but struggled in low-light or low-contrast scenes, occasionally hunting vaguely.

• Samsung HZ35W: Also contrast-detection AF but blessed with face detection. It offers single AF and tracking AF but not continuous AF for video. AF speed felt similar to Panasonic in daylight but slightly better locked on human faces.

Neither camera is a sprinter in autofocus terms; you won’t catch a hummingbird mid-flight perfectly sharp with these. If you’re a wildlife or sports shooter, either is a compromise, but Samsung’s face detection is handy for portraits.

Lens and Zoom: Wide Reach vs. Brightness

Both cameras have fixed lenses but with very different zoom ranges.

• Panasonic FX78: 24-120mm equivalent (5x zoom) with a bright f/2.5 aperture at the wide end - a nice plus for indoor and low-light shots. The shorter zoom wasn’t too versatile for wildlife or distant subjects but sufficed for portraits and landscapes.

• Samsung HZ35W: Offers a whopping 24-360mm equivalent (15x zoom) but starts at f/3.2, a bit slower. The extended zoom lets you reach faraway subjects but at the expense of aperture speed and, consequently, low-light ability at the telephoto end.

Both lenses feature optical image stabilization, essential given their long zooms, especially on the Samsung.

If your priority is zoom reach - think travel or casual wildlife snapshots - Samsung takes the win. For quality and slightly faster lenses for portraits and street photography, Panasonic scores better.

Video Capabilities: Movie Time

Camera video tech is often the neglected kid.

• Panasonic FX78: Shoots Full HD 1080p at 60 fps, supporting AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, a solid feature on a budget compact. Optical stabilization helps smooth handheld footage, but no external mic input limits sound quality options.

• Samsung HZ35W: Tops out at HD 720p at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format - comparatively dated and less efficient. No external mic port either.

If video is a serious part of your workflow, Panasonic’s full HD at 60 fps gives it a clear edge. That said, neither is ideal for professional video production.

Battery Life and Storage: Ready for the Long Haul?

Battery endurance matters if you shoot all day without charging breaks.

• Panasonic FX78: Rated at 200 shots per charge, modest but expected for its size and battery type (battery pack).

• Samsung HZ35W: No official rating given, but anecdotal reports from users suggest roughly 250-300 shots per charge using the included SLB-11A battery.

Both take SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and store files internally, useful for emergency backup.

If battery stamina is a priority, Samsung’s slight edge feels reassuring, especially on travel shoots where recharging options might be limited.

Connectivity and Extra Features: The Modern Conveniences

Neither camera supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC. So, instant sharing requires removing the card or tethering via USB 2.0, which is painfully slow by today’s standards. Panasonic includes HDMI out, handy for direct playback on TVs - Samsung does, too.

Samsung offers built-in GPS, a nice touch for geotagging your travel shots - Panasonic doesn’t.

If you’re a social media junkie or want instant backup, neither camera shines, but Samsung ranks higher for travel geolocation.

Photography Genres: Who’s Best for What?

Let’s break down how these cameras fare across popular photography disciplines. I’ve tested both in scenarios covering all the bases:

Panasonic FX78 front Panasonic FX78 screen back Samsung HZ35W screen back

Portrait Photography

• FX78: Slight edge with brighter lens (f/2.5) offering better subject isolation and nicer background bokeh on the wide end. However, no face or eye detection means manual framing focus is critical.

• HZ35W: Face detection autofocus helps nail focus on subjects, but smaller aperture limits background blur.

Recommendation: FX78 for portraits with intentional shallow depth; Samsung if autofocus reliability for faces is primary.

Landscape Photography

• FX78: Wider aperture and marginally better color processing yield more vibrant skies and plants.

• HZ35W: Longer zoom useful for isolating distant landscape features but with softer results at extreme telephoto.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so shoot cautiously in adverse weather. The FX78’s brighter lens and touchscreen expedite setting changes on location.

Wildlife Photography

• HZ35W: 360mm zoom is way better for reaching animals from a distance, critical in wildlife scenarios.

• FX78: Too limited in reach.

Both cameras have limited burst shooting: Panasonic’s 4 fps max continuous is decent for compacts; Samsung doesn’t specify but appears slower.

Recommendation: Samsung for casual wildlife shooters.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is designed for fast-paced sports action: slow autofocus, limited frame rates, and laggy shutter response make either a compromise choice.

If pressed, Panasonic’s 4 fps continuous and slightly faster AF edges out Samsung.

Street Photography

• FX78: Small, light, and quiet; ideal for discreet candid captures.

• HZ35W: Larger and more conspicuous but longer zoom can get creative shots from afar.

Recommendation: FX78 for traditional street photographers valuing stealth.

Macro Photography

• HX35W: 3cm macro focus distance lets you get closer than Panasonic’s 5cm.

Both have optical stabilization, but the Samsung’s closer focusing distance makes it more versatile for flower and insect shots.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras’ small sensors and lack of manual long exposure modes limit night photography. Panasonic’s maximum shutter speed of 1/400 sec max is limited; Samsung goes to 1/2000 sec but no long bulb mode.

Neither excels here.

Video Use

Panasonic wins with HD 1080p 60fps versus Samsung’s 720p 30fps.

Travel Photography

Strong points:

• Panasonic: light and compact with touchscreen, better for city photography.

• Samsung: super zoom for travel versatility, built-in GPS allows geotagging.

Good battery life on both.

Professional Workflows

Neither supports RAW files or advanced connectivity - both best suited as secondary, casual shooters rather than professional primary cameras.

Technical Summary and Performance Metrics

Here’s a data-driven recap:

• Sensor and Image Quality: Tie, with Panasonic slightly ahead on color.
• Lens Brightness: Panasonic wins.
• Zoom Reach: Samsung wins.
• Autofocus: Samsung’s face detection slightly better.
• Video Capabilities: Panasonic wins.
• Handling and Controls: Samsung wins due to manual modes.
• Size and Weight: Panasonic hands down.
• Battery Life: Samsung slightly better.
• Extra Features: Samsung wins with GPS.

Pros and Cons Snapshot

Panasonic FX78:

Pros:

• Compact, lightweight, pocketable
• Bright lens (f/2.5)
• Full HD 1080p 60fps video
• Touchscreen interface
• Good color rendition

Cons:

• Limited zoom (5x)
• No manual exposure or RAW support
• Weak battery life
• No face detection AF

Samsung HZ35W:

Pros:

• Massive 15x zoom (24-360mm)
• Manual focus and exposure controls
• Face detection AF
• Built-in GPS geotagging
• Higher resolution LCD

Cons:

• Bulkier, heavier
• Slower lens at wide end (f/3.2)
• Only 720p video, Motion JPEG
• No touchscreen
• No RAW support

Final Verdict: Which Compact Makes Sense for You?

If you want a compact, travel-friendly camera for bright light shooting, casual street photography, and better video - Panasonic FX78 is your pal. Its smaller size, touchscreen, and faster lens make it a joy for everyday carry if you’re okay with a modest zoom range.

If zoom power, manual control, and geotagging are your priority - say you want to shoot wildlife at a distance or prefer more manual exposure creativity - the Samsung HZ35W provides more flexibility at the cost of some bulk and weaker video.

Neither camera will satisfy professionals dependent on RAW files, advanced AF, or rugged build. But for enthusiasts on a budget looking for straightforward, decent quality snaps, both still deliver good value even years after their debut.

Some Personal Thoughts After Prolonged Use

Using the FX78 reminded me of the joy of simplicity - no menus to drown in, just a point-and-shoot with lovely colors and surprise-level sharpness. It’s like a friendly old friend you can trust not to fuss.

The Samsung was a bit like bringing a Swiss Army knife to a picnic: powerful zoom at your fingertips but heavier, and with more buttons to confuse less experienced users. Its manual controls hint at untapped creativity but demand a steeper learning curve.

For me, if you’re dipping your toes into compact cameras or want a lightweight second shooter, lean FX78. But if you’re a hobbyist craving more creative freedom and zoom, spend the extra for Samsung.

Thanks for journeying with me through this detailed comparison. Whichever camera you pick, remember: great photos depend more on your eye and timing than the gear’s spec sheet. Happy shooting!