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Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Key Specs

Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FX77
Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH5
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic FX78 versus Panasonic GH4, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and they are both built by Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and GH4 (16MP) and the FX78 (1/2.3") and GH4 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The FX78 was brought out 4 years before the GH4 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FX78 matches up vs the GH4 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Panasonic GH4

 FX78 GH4 
Screen size3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Panasonic FX78

 GH4 FX78 
RevealedFebruary 2014January 2011Fresher by 36 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1036k230kClearer screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Panasonic GH4

 FX78 GH4 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX78 has external dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Panasonic GH4 has measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FX78 versus Panasonic GH4 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the FX78 versus the GH4.

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and GH4 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The graphic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FX78 and GH4.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FX78 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GH4 will show extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older FX78 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH4 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography features
Panasonic GH4 Street photography features
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
71
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than competition (560g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH4 as a Sports photography camera
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
62
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GH4 Travel photography advice
56
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.5)
77
lighter than competition (560g)
environment proof
includes focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FX78
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH4
36
really wide (24mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic GH4 Vlogging highlights
33
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic port
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone socket
lighter than competition (560g)
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic GH4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Panasonic GH4
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-25 2014-02-07
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine IX
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.67x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1400 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 17.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142 gr (0.31 pounds) 560 gr (1.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 791
Other
Battery life 200 shots 500 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $210 $1,500