Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony HX100V, Nikon P500 - Camera Comparison

Panasonic has launched the DMC-FZ47/FZ48 new 24x superzoom digital camera. This new camera updates upon the FZ45 that was announced in July 21 2010, exactly one year prior to the announcement of the FZ47. The  new camera features a 24mm ultra-wide angle Leica DC Vario Elmarit lens, 1080i video recording, 12.1-megapixel CCD and a wide variety of useful features. Although maintain the same dimensions and and overall design, there are some unique differences between those two cameras that worth mentioning. In this article we will cover those changes and see how it compares to the Nikon Coolpix P500 and Sony HX100V, which have longer zoom and will both compete over your wallet. OK, Let's start!

Overview

I remember the first time I've held a FZ camera. From what I remember, it was fairly compact in size (the camera is categorized in the SLR-like camera's category) , had a very long zoom range and the image quality was very good. Although I had it for just a few days, I remember that I really liked shooting with it. Although it doesn't offer the same ultra-zoom (> 800mm) range as the Nikon P500 and the Sony HX100V, if it can produce better image quality and have unique features that other ultra-zoom don't have, many customers might consider buying the FZ47 / FZ48 over Sony or Nikon.

There is a big demand for those SLR-like super-zoom digital cameras. There are known to be favorite among family and travel photographers. People who need a compact and flexible camera that will answer many of their needs to capture beautiful images and share them with others. The balance size, zoom range, image quality, video capabilities and in-camera features, all will be considered and people will decide if this is their next digital camera. On paper, the Panasonic Lumix FZ47 Digital camera looks very promising, but we need to dig a little deeper to unveil its true uniqueness.

Camera Design

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 is a compact super-zoom camera. Although fairly compact, it's not a camera that you can just put into your jeans pocket. The camera's dimensions are 120x80x92 mm, the same size as the FZ40/45. It's a bit smaller than the Nikon P500 but smaller than the Sony HX100. The differences in size are not that great so I wouldn't give it too much weight as part of my buying decision.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ47 Superzoom camera

In terms of weight (with batteries), th FZ47 weights more than the FZ40 and P500 by 4g. The Sony HX100 is the heaviest of the bunch, weighting 577 g (1.27 lb / 20.35 oz) .  The design of the FZ47 is very appealing. It's really a nice-looking digital camera. I personally (you might decide otherwise) prefer the design of the Panasonic over Nikon and Sony, but this is only my personal preference.

The FZ47 camera utilizes both LCD and an electronic viewfinder for composing your photos. The FZ47 doubles the resolution (460K vs 230K dots) of the FZ40, but still it's a 3-inch Fixed LCD compared to the tilting one found on the HX100 and the P500. I personally think that Panasonic should have put a tilting LCD in this new model. Many people will base their buying decision because of this feature. It's especially important when shooting videos.

At the top of the camera you can find the stereo mic for recording sound while recording videos. There is the functions' mode-dial at the right side at the top of the camera. The dedicated movie button is placed just over the grip next to the shutter button.


(dimensions, weight, LCD info)

Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 - 120 x 80 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.15 x 3.62") | 498 g (1.10 lb / 17.57 oz) | 3-inch 460K-dots FIXED
Panasonic FZ40/FZ45 - 120 x 80 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.15 x 3.62")  | 494 g (1.09 lb / 17.43 oz) | 3-inch 230K-dots FIXED

Nikon Coolpix P500 - 116 x 103 x 84 mm (4.57 x 4.06 x 3.31")  | 494 g (1.09 lb / 17.43 oz) | 3-inch 921K-dots TILTING

Sony HX100V - 122 x 87 x 93 mm (4.8 x 3.43 x 3.66") | 577 g (1.27 lb / 20.35 oz) | 3-inch 921K-dots TILTING

Sensor and ISO

The Panasonic FZ47/48 features a 12.1MP (effective) 1/2.33" CCD with multi-variate aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1).  Compared to the Panasonic FZ45/40, we can see that Panasonic lowered the resolution from 14.1-megapixels to 12.1-megapixels (effective resolution). The sensor has the same size though.

We actually don't see this much often when a next-generation camera has fewer pixels than its previous model. The trend is stuff more pixels because these numbers help selling more digital cameras. I can tell you that I really like the fact that the new Lumix FZ47 has fewer pixels than the FZ40. We can expect the FZ47 to provide better low noise performance compared to the FZ40 due to its bigger pixels (we will talk about it in the high ISO test section). The DMC-FZ47/48  has a native ISO from 100 to 1600, can be boosted to 6400. The same goes to the FZ40.

Nikon P500 and Sony HZ100V utilize a slightly larger sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm), but there are some important differences between those cameras. First of all, the Nikon P500 has a BSI-CMOS sensor with 12.0MP resolution. The Sony Cybershot HX100V has 16.2MO BSI-CMOS sensor. It seems that the Nikon and Sony have the edge when it comes to sensor type. The BSI sensor is probably the reason why both the Sony and Nikon cameras can reach native ISO 3200.

However, I won't judge the FZ47 by the sensor type only. I also want to mention that the Nikon P500 is the only camera that its minimum ISO starts at 160 instead of 100 and the FZ40 has the lowest ISO sensitivity of 80, lower than all the other cameras. Panasonic cameras also feature 1:1 and 3:2 photos compared to the Sony and Nikon that only features 4:3 and 16:9 image aspect ratios.

Here is a quick Sensor/ISO comparison:
(sensor resolution, size, ISO range)

Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 - 12.1MP | 6.12 x 4.51 mm CCD (1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9) | ISO 100-1600 (expandable up to ISO6400)
Panasonic FZ40/FZ45 - 14.1MP | 6.17 x 4.55 mm CCD (1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9) | ISO 100-1600 (expandable up to ISO6400)
Nikon Coolpix P500 - 12.0MP | 6.17 x 4.55 mm BSI-CMOS (4:3, 16:9) | ISO 160-3200
Sony HX100V - 16.2MP | 6.17 x 4.55 mm BSI-CMOS (4:3, 16:9) | ISO 100-3200

Lens and Zoom Range

One of the main reasons that many people by superzoom cameras is the high-zoom range that those cameras offer. Ultrazoom cameras offer a larger optical magnification compares to super-zoom cameras, somewhere between 100mm to 200mm focal length (approx. 6× to 12× zoom). The Difference between those two type of cameras is obvious. People who want the highest zoom possible, will prefer an ultra-zoom camera, like the Canon SX30IS, Nikon P500, Sony HX100. Those cameras can reach further into the distance and allow photographers to capture far away subjects.

Having said that, we should certainly not ignore the long zoom range of the Panasonic FZ40 and the FZ47 (25-600mm, 24×). In fact, having a smaller zoom lens might lead to better image quality due to less complex lens construction. The FZ48 lens has 14 elements in 10 groups, including 3 ED lenses and 2 aspherical lenses with 3 asphetical surfaced.

The wide angle of the lens is another important thing that you shouldn't skip out. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 has a 25-600mm ultra-wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens. It also utilizes Panasonic's Nano Surface coating technology to help reduce ghosting and flare to due inner-reflections inside the lens. It's probably a similar coating like the Nano-Crystal coat found on man Nikkor lenses. I can tell you from my own experience that that type of coating certainly helps in reducing ghosting and flare, especially when shooting with wide angle lenses.


Compared to the Nikon P500, the P500 has a wider angle (23 mm) and a much longer zoom (810 mm). The Sony HX100V has 'only' 27mm in its widest angle and has the same zoom reach as the Nikon (810 mm).  If you enjoy shooting wide-angle shots, the Nikon P500 has the widest angle, best for group shots and landscape photography.  The Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 is somewhere in between the P500 and the Sony with its 25mm wide-angle lens.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the FZ47 includes the POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer). An optical image stabilization mechanism is very important for minimizing camera shake and reduce blur in photos. The importance magnitude of this feature is even more important when we deal with super-zoom digital cameras like the FZ47. The Power O.I.S. has proven to be very effective in reducing blue in images. Just remember that image stabilization by itself won't help you freeze a fast-moving subject. It just helps you stabilizing the image, so when shooting below the 'shutter speed rule of thumb' recommended speed, you can get out with sharp images. All cameras can focus from 1cm in macro mode.

The Panasonic is also much faster than the Nikon Coolpix P500 with its F2.8 aperture in its widest angle. At the longest focal length and considering the differences between those lenses, the aperture is virtually the same (I'm giving a rough estimation here).


Furthermore, the FZ48 as its predecessor has an intelligent zoom, which can stress the zoom even further but on the expense of image resolution. For example, you can shoot at up to 32× (799mm, 35mm equiv.) at resolution less than 12MP and 1172mm at 3-megapixel resolution.

Let's sum things up..
(lens focal length range, optical zoom, macro focus range)

Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 - 25 – 600 mm F2.8-5.2 | 24× | 1cm
Panasonic FZ40/FZ45 - 25 – 600 mm F2.8-5.2 | 24× | 1cm
Nikon Coolpix P500 - 23 – 810 mm F2.8-5.6 | 36× | 1cm
Sony HX100V - 27 – 810 mm F3.5-5.7 | 30× | 1cm

Full HD Video Recording

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 can record videos in Full HD resolution at 60 or 30 fps with the AVCHD video file format. Before we talk more about the video functionality, lets take a look at a miniature effect mode video shot with the new camera.




Worth mentioning that the P500, HX100 and FZ47, all have full HD video recording. The FZ40 is the only digital camera that only supports a lower resolution of 720p.  The AVCHD format enables twice the recording time than conventional Motion JPEG. As I mentioned earlier, the camera comes with a stereo microphone, featuring Dolby® Digital Stereo for high-quality audio recording, which also can suppress lens drive noise. The new microphone also utilizes an Auto wind cut function to minimize wind and background noise automatically, so you'll get a clear and high-quality sound.

Panasonic is well known for using the best well known hardware ingredients to help produce very high-quality videos. Of course as other cameras, the FZ47 features creative controls that allow photographers to create unique looking videos. This includes high key, Sepia, high dynamic, retro, pin hole, film grain and miniature effects while shooting videos.

Furthermore, with the FZ47 you can choose between six color types, including Standard, vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery and Portrait. This features is available for both stills and videos alike.

Lets take a look at a Sony HX100V video sample:



Now for a Nikon P500 test video:






(resolution + fps, sound)

Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 - 1080i @ 60/30 fps | Stereo sound

Panasonic FZ40/FZ45 - 720p @ 60/30 fps | Stereo sound

Nikon Coolpix P500 -1080p @ 30 fps | Stereo sound

Sony HX100V - 1080i @ 60 fps | Stereo sound

Continuous Shooting

The DMC-FZ47 has 3.7fps in burst mode. It's twice as fast as the FZ40 (1.8 vs 3.7 fps), much faster than the P500 (0.8 fps) but less faster than the Sony HX100V (10 fps). I think that for the market segment that this camera is aimed for, 3.7 fps will satisfy most of the people.

Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 - 3.7 fps

Panasonic FZ40/FZ45 - 1.8 fps

Nikon Coolpix P500 -0.8 fps

Sony HX100V - 10 fps

Anything else?

The Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 features a Sonic Speed AF which vastly improved over previous models. In fact, it's 35% faster than previous models according to Panasonic product page. The FZ47 gives the photographer full control over the camera, including manual focusing with image enlargement - very important for macro photography.

The camera is very responsive and with its Tracking AF it will allow photographers to track moving subjects without a hassle. The camera includes Intelligent D-range for exposure optimization and automatic backlight compensation. The Intelligent Resolution technology will increase the image details and sharpness, producing sharp and clear photos every time.

More features in iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode:

• Face detection & Face recognition
• Subject Detection
• Scene Detection
• Happy Mode - optimizes the image for contrast and colors that will make the photo more pleasing to watch
• Manual White Balance
• Shake Detection - Gyrosensors detect hand-shaking that turns-on the O.I.S. automatically

FZ47 vs P500 vs HX100 - Comparison Table

I think that you'll get a good overview of the differences between the Panasonic FZ47/48 and P500 and HX100 with the following comparison table.

Features	Panasonic DMC-FZ47	Sony Cyber-Shot HX100V	Nikon COOLPIX P500
Announcement Date	July 21, 2011	February 1, 2011	February 9, 2011
Sensor	12.1MP (effective) CCD 1/2.33" (6.12 x 4.51 mm)	16.2MP (effective) BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)	12.0MP (effective) BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Processor	Venus Engine FHD	BIONZ	Expeed C2
ISO	ISO 100-1600 Boost: ISO6400	ISO: 100-3200	ISO 160-3200
Lens	LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 25 – 600 mm F2.8-5.2 Stabilized (optical)	Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T 27 – 810 mm F2.8-5.6 Stabilized (optical)	Zoom-NIKKOR 23 – 810 mm F3.5-5.6 Stabilized (sensor-shift)
Focus Range	Normal: 30 cm Macro: 1 cm	Normal: 200 cm (Tele) Macro: 1 cm	Normal: 50 cm Macro: 1 cm
LCD	3-inch 460K-dots Fixed	3-inch 921K-dots Tilting	3-inch 921K-dots Tilting
Shutter Speed	1/2000 - 60 sec	1/4000 - 30 sec	1/1500 sec
Focus Points	23	9	9
Built-in Flash	Yes (9.5 m)	Yes (12.7 m)	Yes (8 m)
Raw	No	Yes	Yes
Continuous Shooting	3.7 fps	10 fps	0.8 fps
Exposure compensation	±3 EV (at 1/3 EV steps)	±2 EV (at 1/3 EV steps)	±2 EV (at 1/3 EV steps)
Video Recording (Max. resolution)	1080i @ 60/30 fps	1080i @ 60 fps	1080p @ 30 fps
Battery Life (CIPA)	400 shots	410 shots	220 shots
GPS	No	Yes	No
Weight (with batteries)	498 g (1.10 lb / 17.57 oz)	577 g (1.27 lb / 20.35 oz)	494 g (1.09 lb / 17.43 oz)
Dimensions	120 x 80 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.15 x 3.62")	122 x 87 x 93 mm (4.8 x 3.43 x 3.66")	116 x 103 x 84 mm (4.57 x 4.06 x 3.31")

I hope that this table will give you a quick view of the key component differences between the three cameras.

Which one should I buy?

Well, we can clearly see that the FZ47 has its cons and pros. The lack of Raw will definitely prevent some people from purchasing it. Leaving the 'Raw' issue asside, the Panasonic FZ47/FZ48 is a direct competitor to the Canon PowerShot SX30IS, Nikon Coolpix P500 and Sony Cyber-shot HX100V.  Although we don't have a direct image sample comparison to really come to clear conclusion regarding IQ, we can expect the FZ45 to even outperform the FZ40 / FZ35, which will put it very high in the IQ department.

The FZ47 now features 1080i video recording, compared to 720p on the FZ40.  You get to have less pixels, but that should lead to better IQ (still needs to be evaluated).  The CCD is a bit smaller compared to the Canon SX30 IS, Sony HX100 and Nikon P500, which might worry some. But the fact that the resolution was decreased, made me think twice before raising this fact as an issue at all.

The combination of very high optical quality Leica lens with Nano coating, 1080 videos, a large arsenal of iA functions, faster AF, manual AF, EVF and the Venus Engine FHD, all should lead to a robust super-zoom camera that should one of the first choices for people who want to buy a super-zoom camera. I will update this comparison article as new sample images, test movies become available.

To be continued...