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Panasonic FH5

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
  • 16MP - 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
  • Released January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS18
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Panasonic FH5 summary

Panasonic FH5 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Compact camera originally launched on January of 2011. It includes a 16 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4608 x 3456. The camera is referred to as "Lumix DMC-FS18" in other regions.

The FH5 ranks at #92 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and overall #921 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should try our Advanced camera filter to find camera ratings based on your personal requirements.

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The following is a graph of specific factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic FH5 family

The Panasonic FH5 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can view all older and the latest models as well as important specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH10 front thumbnailPanasonic FH10
FH5 vs FH10
26-130mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5 front thumbnailPanasonic F5
FH5 vs F5
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2013
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH8 front thumbnailPanasonic FH8
FH5 vs FH8
24-120mm
F2.5-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH6 front thumbnailPanasonic FH6
FH5 vs FH6
24-120mm
F2.5-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH7 front thumbnailPanasonic FH7
FH5 vs FH7
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX90 front thumbnailPanasonic FX90
FH5 vs FX90
24-120mm
F2.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX78 front thumbnailPanasonic FX78
FH5 vs FX78
24-120mm
F2.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH2 front thumbnailPanasonic FH2
FH5 vs FH2
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH25 front thumbnailPanasonic FH25
FH5 vs FH25
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH5 front thumbnailPanasonic FH528-112mm
F3.1-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH27 front thumbnailPanasonic FH27
FH5 vs FH27
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX700 front thumbnailPanasonic FX700
FH5 vs FX700
24-120mm
F2.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX75 front thumbnailPanasonic FX75
FH5 vs FX75
24-120mm
F2.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH1 front thumbnailPanasonic FH1
FH5 vs FH1
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH22 front thumbnailPanasonic FH22
FH5 vs FH22
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH3 front thumbnailPanasonic FH3
FH5 vs FH3
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH20 front thumbnailPanasonic FH20
FH5 vs FH20
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS25 front thumbnailPanasonic FS25
FH5 vs FS25
29-145mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX580 front thumbnailPanasonic FX580
FH5 vs FX580
25-125mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX48 front thumbnailPanasonic FX48
FH5 vs FX48
25-125mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ28 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ28
FH5 vs FZ28
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic FH5 Pros and Cons

Here is a list of good and bad points of the Panasonic FH5 based on criterias that are often considered essential in a camera.

built-in flash
built in zoom lens (28-112mm 4.0 x zoom)
features focus by touch
good minimum ISO (100)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (121 grams)
quite wide (28mm)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
supports tracking autofocus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
does not have HDMI support
does not have headphone jack
does not have phase detect autofocus
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
fixed screen
manual exposure not available
no aperture priority
no manual focus
no shutter priority mode
pixelated screen (230 k dot)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
sluggish at long end (f6.5)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
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Panasonic FH5 Sensor specs

The Panasonic FH5 features the Venus Engine IV chip. The specification of the sensor in the Panasonic FH5 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can easily lead to cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 16MP and features a native ISO range of 100 - 6400. Unfortunately, RAW format is not supported so the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The image below shows the FH5's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The FH5 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is shown in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

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

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic FH5 dimensions

Panasonic FH5 is 0.27 lb (121 gr or 4.27 oz) and features outer size of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr so the Panasonic FH5 is less heavy compared to various competitors.

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The following is a photo of the Panasonic FH5 next to a soft drink to help you have a sense of its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will highlight the button layout on the FH5.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 topview buttons dials

Panasonic FH5 Lens details

The FH5 has a fixed lens giving a focal range of 28-112mm making it a 4.0 x zoom which is not perfect but it may be handy in a few conditions.

At it's widest 28mm, the lens will have an aperture of f3.1 and that's pretty sluggish and not great in low light events and you will probably find it hard to capture good bokeh. You will likely also need to raise your ISO producing noisy pictures. On the long end, 112mm comes to f6.5 which is fairly slow and you may have to go with slow shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 Connectivity

The FH5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that come with NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can easily copy pictures and oftentimes change settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

Several apps also allow a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Panasonic FH5 Video details

The max video resolution in the Panasonic FH5 is 1280 x 720 and it can save in Motion JPEG format. 720p is awful by today's requirements. You should shoot for a minimum FUll HD resolution for video. The body does not have a mic and / or headphone socket so you get zero control over your sound. It is perhaps best to look into another camera if you need better sound in your video clips.

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Panasonic FH5 Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing on the Panasonic FH5 so you have to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.

Panasonic FH5 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic FH5 includes a 2.7" fixed display with a resolution of 230k dots.

Unfortunately the display is not a touch screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The View Finder specifications regarding Panasonic FH5 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are rather handy during bright outdoor situations which might make the camera display washed out and difficult to view.

Panasonic FH5 Shutter details

Panasonic FH5 has the ability to shoot continuously at 4.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600s.

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Panasonic FH5 Flash and Hot shoe details

Panasonic FH5 boasts just integrated flash with no external flash support.

Panasonic FH5 Autofocusing details

Panasonic FH5 boasts only Contrast Based Autofocus and lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker and precise compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera includes Face detect making it valuable for taking photos of people.

It includes 11 focus points to select from. Panasonic FH5 has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers in order to adjust where you focus. It also features Tracking Autofocus for things on the move. Panasonic FH5 lacks manual focusing. Manual focusing is good during low light conditions or you need more exact control on depth of field.

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Panasonic FH5 Battery life

The battery pack on the Panasonic FH5 is built to last for 260 photos based on the CIPA benchmarks making it about the same as its competitors. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the maximum (470) battery life within this range of cameras.

Following is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras that have the highest battery life:

Panasonic FH5 for varying categories of photography

The following illustration shows a outline of the Panasonic FH5 for varying categories of photography. To find out more, go to the specific paragraph below.

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors

The Panasonic FH5 has a points total of 34 which is really bad, meaning that it is not really good to use for portraits. Shooting portraits favors heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW files plus the flexibility to use off-camera lighting.

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decent MP (16MP)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Panasonic FH5 Street photography info

Having a nice rating of 67, the Panasonic FH5 is a fine pick to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography information

A really bad sports photography rating of 40 means the Panasonic FH5 is not really good for shooting sports. A camera really should have fantastic autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus

Travel photography with Panasonic FH5

Portability is really critical in buying a travel camera. Overall, the Panasonic FH5 gets a very good 71 for a travelling camera which makes it a good option to buy for your holidays.

Photography Glossary
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
provides focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography details

For anybody who is planning to buy a digital camera for landscape photos, the most significant factor will be image quality. The Panasonic FH5 with it's really bad score of 38 for a landscape camera is not really good in the current marketplace.

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reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5

A vlogging camera really should posses a articulating display screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Panasonic FH5 is not really good as a vlog camera as it delivers a really bad score of 33.

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relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support

Panasonic FH5 Alternatives

If you are in the market for replacements to the FH5, below is a list of the top rated cameras which fall within the family of Small Sensor Compact.

The graph here gives you an overview of the FH5 versus it's highest ranked rivals mentioned above.

Following are several cameras you might take into account as alternate options. To read a complete comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called
Lumix DMC-FS18
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Released
2011-01-05
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Powered by
Venus Engine IV
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points
11
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance
5cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
2.7"
Resolution of display
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
60 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
3.30 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE 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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video format
Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
121 grams (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions
94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
Other
Battery life
260 shots
Form of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
1
Retail cost
$169