Panasonic FH2
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
- 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
- Revealed January 2011
- Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS16
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
96 Imaging
37 Features
33 Overall
35
Panasonic FH2 overview
Panasonic FH2 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Compact camera originally released on January of 2011. The camera uses a 14MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4320 x 3240. It is referred to as "Lumix DMC-FS16" in other markets.
The FH2 ranks at #93 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & all around #921 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to use our Smart camera finder to find camera rankings based on your personal criteria.
Below is a graph of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.
Panasonic FH2 family
The Panasonic FH2 has a history of related cameras. Below, you can see all older and the latest models as well as important specifications.
F3.1-6.514MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic FH2 Gallery
You can view the FH2 from several angles in the gallery here.
Panasonic FH2 Pros and Cons
Here is a shortlist of good and bad points of the Panasonic FH2 based on things that are oftentimes viewed as useful in a camera.
Panasonic FH2 Sensor features
The Panasonic FH2 features the Venus Engine IV chip. The sensor size on the Panasonic FH2 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4320 x 3240 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter can cause cropping.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe CCD sensor has 14 megapixels and supports a native ISO range of 100 to 6400. Unfortunately, RAW files are not saved which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.
The graphic below shows the FH2's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The FH2 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is pointed out in green.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.
Panasonic FH2 dimensions
Panasonic FH2 weighs around 0.27 pounds (121 gr / 4.27 oz) & has exterior dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr and the Panasonic FH2 is lighter compared to its rivals.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideBelow is a pic of the Panasonic FH2 with a soda so you're able to get a feel for its size.
The top view here will provide the button layout on the FH2.
Panasonic FH2 Lens features
The FH2 comes with a built in lens giving a focal range of 28-112mm making it a 4.0 x zoom which won't be ideal but it will surely be handy in a few circumstances.
At it's widest 28mm, it comes with an aperture of f3.1 and that is pretty sluggish and not good for low light events and you may find it difficult to get a shallow depth of field. You will likely also have to increase your ISO setting producing noisy files. For the long end, 112mm comes at f6.5 making it fairly sluggish and you might have to choose slow shutter speeds.
Panasonic FH2 Connectivity
The FH2 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
Cameras with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You can copy photos and sometimes change camera settings without connecting straight with the camera.
Several apps also allow a Liveview and click the shutter if you aren't close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external display. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery through the USB socket.
Panasonic FH2 Video features
The maximum video quality on the Panasonic FH2 is 1280 x 720 and you can save in Motion JPEG format. 720p is terrible for today's requirements. You really should target at least FUll HD quality for video. The body doesn't feature a microphone and headphone jack which means you have got zero control over the sound. It is probably best to have a look at a different camera if you want good sound for your video clips.
Panasonic FH2 Weather Sealing
Panasonic FH2 doesn't have weather proofing so rainy conditions could affect the camera.
Panasonic FH2 Display and Viewfinder
The Panasonic FH2 houses a 2.7 inch fixed display with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.
Please note that the display screen has no touch support.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe ViewFinder specifications for Panasonic FH2 are the following:
- ViewFinder None
For bright outdoor conditions that make the camera screens washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders will be particularly helpful.
Panasonic FH2 Shutter features
Panasonic FH2 continuous shooting speed is 4.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.
Panasonic FH2 Flash and Hot shoe features
Panasonic FH2 comes with just in-built flash without external flash ability.
Panasonic FH2 Autofocus features
Panasonic FH2 comes with only Contrast Based AF & lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier & precise compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detect which makes it valuable for people photography.
The Sensor boasts 11 focus points to pick from. Panasonic FH2 has tap to focus. You can easily use your fingers to shift where you focus. It also features Tracking AF for moving things. Panasonic FH2 has not got manual focusing. Manual focusing option can be good in low light conditions or you want more exact control on depth of field.
Panasonic FH2 Battery life
The battery in the Panasonic FH2 is designed to last for 270 images based on the CIPA benchmarks which is above standard in comparison to its category. The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the highest possible (470) battery life in this kind of cameras.
Below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras that come with the highest battery life:
Panasonic FH2 for specific categories of photography
The following graph shows a summation of the Panasonic FH2 for specific categories of photography. To find out more, browse to the specific section below.
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography information
The Panasonic FH2 receives a points total of 33 which is lousy, meaning that it is just not acceptable for portrait images. Taking portrait images favors heavily to sensor size, RAW support & ability to utilize off-camera flash.
Panasonic FH2 Street photography features
Coming in at a above average points total of 67, the Panasonic FH2 is a respectable pick to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera gives a good balance of image quality plus portability.
Panasonic FH2 as a Sports photography camera
A lousy sports photography points tally of 43 suggests the Panasonic FH2 is just not acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera must have great tracking plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography features
Portability is really crucial when picking a travel camera. On the whole, the Panasonic FH2 gets a very good 72 as a travelling camera which is a fine pick to take with you on your holidays.
Panasonic FH2 as a Landscape photography camera
In case you're planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the most critical factor will be image quality. The Panasonic FH2 with it's lousy rating of 41 as a landscape camera is just not acceptable in the current marketplace.
Vlogging with Panasonic FH2
A vlogging camera preferably should offer a moving display, mic input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Panasonic FH2 is just not acceptable as a vlog camera as it gets a lousy rating of 32.
Panasonic FH2 Alternatives
If you are in the market for replacements to the FH2, below is a collection of the highest rated cameras which fall in to the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The diagram underneath offers you a bird's eye view of the FH2 versus it's highest ranked rivals listed above.
These are some more cameras you might take into account as alternative options. To review a comprehensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.