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Panasonic FH20

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Panasonic FH20 overview

Panasonic FH20 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Compact camera initially introduced on January of 2010. The camera features a 14MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4320 x 3240. The camera is also known as "Lumix DMC-FS30" in certain markets.

The FH20 places at #178 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all round #1112 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can try our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your custom criteria.

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Below is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic FH20 family

The Panasonic FH20 comes with a history of related cameras. Underneath, you can discover all previous and brand new models alongside main specs.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH10 front thumbnailPanasonic FH10
FH20 vs FH10
26-130mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5 front thumbnailPanasonic F5
FH20 vs F5
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2013
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH8 front thumbnailPanasonic FH8
FH20 vs FH8
24-120mm
F2.5-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH6 front thumbnailPanasonic FH6
FH20 vs FH6
24-120mm
F2.5-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH7 front thumbnailPanasonic FH7
FH20 vs FH7
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX90 front thumbnailPanasonic FX90
FH20 vs FX90
24-120mm
F2.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX78 front thumbnailPanasonic FX78
FH20 vs FX78
24-120mm
F2.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH25 front thumbnailPanasonic FH25
FH20 vs FH25
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH2 front thumbnailPanasonic FH2
FH20 vs FH2
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH27 front thumbnailPanasonic FH27
FH20 vs FH27
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH5 front thumbnailPanasonic FH5
FH20 vs FH5
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX700 front thumbnailPanasonic FX700
FH20 vs FX700
24-120mm
F2.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX75 front thumbnailPanasonic FX75
FH20 vs FX75
24-120mm
F2.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH1 front thumbnailPanasonic FH1
FH20 vs FH1
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH22 front thumbnailPanasonic FH22
FH20 vs FH22
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH20 front thumbnailPanasonic FH2028-224mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH3 front thumbnailPanasonic FH3
FH20 vs FH3
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX580 front thumbnailPanasonic FX580
FH20 vs FX580
25-125mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX48 front thumbnailPanasonic FX48
FH20 vs FX48
25-125mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS25 front thumbnailPanasonic FS25
FH20 vs FS25
29-145mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ28 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ28
FH20 vs FZ28
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic FH20 Pros and Cons

Below is a checklist of pros and cons of the Panasonic FH20 based on criterias that are generally seen as important in a camera.

decently wide (28mm)
great min ISO (80)
has built in flash
image stabilization (Optical)
in built zoom lens (28-224mm 8.0 x zoom)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of HDMI out
lack of headphone support
lack of manual mode
lack of mic support
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution screen (230 k dots)
manual focus not available
no aperture priority mode
no external flash support
no phase detect auto focus
no RAW format
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
slow at tele end (f5.9)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Panasonic FH20 Sensor info

The sensor measurement in the Panasonic FH20 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4320 x 3240 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter may cause cropping.

Photography Glossary

The CCD sensor boasts 14 megapixels and includes a native ISO range of 80 - 6400. Unfortunately, RAW format is not saved which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below displays the FH20's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The FH20 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is pointed out in green.

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To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic FH20 dimensions

Panasonic FH20 weighs around 0.39 lb (178 grams or 6.28 oz) and features external dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Panasonic FH20 is very similar when compared with its rivals.

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Below is a pic of the Panasonic FH20 alongside a softdrink so you're able to have a feel for its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 dimensions scale

The top view below will provide the button layout on the FH20.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 topview buttons dials

Panasonic FH20 Lens info

The FH20 comes with a built in lens and a focal range of 28-224mm making it a 8.0 x zoom which won't be perfect but it will probably be convenient in certain situations.

At the widest 28mm, the lens will have an aperture of f3.3 and that is kind of slow and not great in low light conditions and you will find it hard to capture a shallow depth of field. You will probably also have to up the ISO setting leading to noisy photographs. On the tele end, 224mm comes at f5.9 making it quite sluggish and you will need to use slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic FH20 Connectivity

The FH20 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to transfer photos and sometimes change camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.

Many applications even enable a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external monitor. Nearly all cameras will allow you to charge the battery through the USB socket.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH20 Video info

The highest video quality in the Panasonic FH20 is 1280 x 720 and it can capture in Motion JPEG format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You should really target at least FUll HD quality for good video. The camera doesn't include a mic and headphone port which means you get no control over your sound. It is probably best to shop for a different camera if you need better sound in your video clips.

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Panasonic FH20 Weather Sealing

Panasonic FH20 doesn't include weather proofing so wet conditions may affect the camera.

Panasonic FH20 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic FH20 features a 2.7" fixed screen boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Unfortunately the screen is not a touch screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The ViewFinder specs regarding Panasonic FH20 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are really useful in bright outdoor conditions which may make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Panasonic FH20 Shutter info

Panasonic FH20 has the capability to shoot continuously at 5.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/1600s.

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Panasonic FH20 Flash and Hot shoe info

Panasonic FH20 boasts only inbuilt flash without external flash ability.

Panasonic FH20 Autofocus info

Panasonic FH20 boasts just Contrast Based Auto Focus and doesn't have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and exact compared with Contrast Based autofocusing.

The AF system features 9 focus points to select from. Panasonic FH20 lacks manual focusing. Manual focusing option is useful in low light scenarios or you want more accurate control on focus.

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Panasonic FH20 Battery life

The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has got the highest (470) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Here is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras which have the best battery life:

Panasonic FH20 for specific types of photography

The following graph provides a overview of the Panasonic FH20 for specific types of photography. To read more, browse to the specific section below.

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography factors

The Panasonic FH20 gets a points tally of 28 which is really bad, meaning that it is not appropriate for portrait images. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor size, support for RAW files together with the potential to work with external lighting.

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megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files

Panasonic FH20 Street photography information

Having a decent rating of 56, the Panasonic FH20 is reasonably appropriate to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography advice

A really bad sports photography points total of 34 means the Panasonic FH20 is not appropriate for photographing sports. A camera needs to have good autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography info

Weight is really important in choosing a camera for travel. On the whole, the Panasonic FH20 gets a nice 64 for a travelling camera which makes it a respectable fit for your holidays.

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good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography advice

If you're planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the most vital factor will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic FH20 and it's really bad rating of 37 as a landscape camera is not appropriate amongst its competitors.

Photography Glossary
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse function

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging details

A vlogging camera really should offer a articulating display, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Panasonic FH20 is not appropriate for vlogging as it gets a really bad score of 28.

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decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket

Panasonic FH20 Alternatives

If you need alternatives to the FH20, below is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall in to the family of Small Sensor Compact.

The line graph underneath provides you a bird's eye view of the FH20 vs it's top scored competitors listed previously.

These are some more cameras you might see as alternative options. To review a complete comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also called
Lumix DMC-FS30
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Announced
2010-01-06
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
4320 x 3240
RAW photos
Maximum native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range
5cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
2.7 inch
Resolution of display
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
60s
Highest shutter speed
1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
178 gr (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions
100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots
1
Cost at launch
$179