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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-30
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic FX78 versus Pentax K-50, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the FX78 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The FX78 was introduced 3 years prior to the K-50 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FX78 matches up versus the K-50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax K-50

 FX78 K-50 
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic FX78

 K-50 FX78 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2011Fresher by 34 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-50

 FX78 K-50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX78 comes with external dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FX78 versus Pentax K-50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the FX78 against the K-50.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX78 and K-50 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FX78 and K-50.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FX78 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-50 will offer more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older FX78 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography factors
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography features
Pentax K-50 Street photography features
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
more heavy than competition (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-50 Sports photography factors
28
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400s)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (6.0 fps)
bad battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography features
Pentax K-50 Travel photography features
56
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (200 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
56
environment proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery life (410 shots)
more heavy than competition (650 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FX78
Landscape photography with Pentax K-50
36
fairly wide (24mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
33
fairly wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (650g)
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax K-50
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax K-50
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-01-25 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
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 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1400 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142g (0.31 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 410 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $210 $610