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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Released January 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released October 2009
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-5
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-7, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FX78 (12MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is fairly comparable but the FX78 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FX78 was introduced 16 months later than the K-7 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the FX78 matches up against the K-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax K-7

 FX78 K-7 
ReleasedJanuary 2011October 2009More recent by 16 months
Display size3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic FX78

 K-7 FX78 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-7

 FX78 K-7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FX78 provides external measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-7 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FX78 compared to the K-7.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and K-7 is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FX78 and K-7.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FX78 using its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-7 will produce more detail using its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern FX78 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography advice
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Street photography camera
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography info
Pentax K-7 Sports photography info
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
69
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Travel photography highlights
56
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (200 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
64
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
36
really wide (24mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging information
Pentax K-7 Vlogging information
33
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax K-7
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax K-7
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-01-25 2009-10-02
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 6400 2000
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1400 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 13.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 gr (0.31 lb) 750 gr (1.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 536
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 980 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $210 $599