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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FX78 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The FX78 was announced 4 years before the K-3 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the FX78 matches up against the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax K-3

 FX78 K-3 
Screen sizing3.5"3.2"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FX78

 K-3 FX78 
IntroducedApril 2014January 2011More recent by 39 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-3

 FX78 K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX78 has outside measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-3 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 differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the FX78 against the K-3.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX78 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The photograph here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FX78 and K-3.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FX78 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will provide greater detail with its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older FX78 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
28
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400 seconds)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
56
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery life (200 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
60
environment proofing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery power (560 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
36
decently wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery power (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FX78
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
33
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax K-3
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-01-25 2014-04-10
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.5 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1400s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 grams (0.31 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 200 images 560 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Dual
Cost at launch $210 $639