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Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FS12 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very comparable but the FS12 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The FS12 was announced 5 years before the MX-1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the FS12 scores versus the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Pentax MX-1

 FS12 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic FS12

 MX-1 FS12 
IntroducedJuly 2013April 2009Fresher by 51 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax MX-1

 FS12 MX-1 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS12 enjoys physical measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the FS12 vs the MX-1.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS12 and MX-1 is 95 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through specifications. The visual underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FS12 and MX-1.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The FS12 has the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF harder. The older FS12 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
42
manual focus
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS12
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than others in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
good battery (290 shots)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
good battery (290 per charge)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (391 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography factors
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
55
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
good battery (290 per charge)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic support
33
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (391 grams)
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Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Pentax MX-1
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-04-17 2013-07-01
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 31-124mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129 gr (0.28 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $228 $400