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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced February 2010
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FX48 versus Pentax W90, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FX48 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is relatively close and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FX48 was introduced 13 months before the W90 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FX48 grades vs the W90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax W90

 FX48 W90 

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Panasonic FX48

 W90 FX48 
AnnouncedFebruary 2010January 2009Newer by 13 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax W90

 FX48 W90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX48 has got outside measurements of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

See the Panasonic FX48 versus Pentax W90 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the FX48 and the W90.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FX48 and W90 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specs. The pic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FX48 and W90.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of images but you should factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged FX48 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography features
Pentax W90 Portrait photography features
27
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FX48
Street photography with Pentax W90
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
54
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Sports photography information
Pentax W90 Sports photography information
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
24
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FX48
Travel photography with Pentax W90
58
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
64
environment proofing
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FX48
Landscape photography with Pentax W90
33
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
37
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging details
Pentax W90 Vlogging details
30
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax W90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax Optio W90
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2009-01-27 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
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
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 grams (0.33 pounds) 164 grams (0.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $325 $120