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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Here is a extended analysis of the Panasonic FX78 versus Pentax P70, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FX78 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is relatively similar and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was manufactured 24 months later than the P70 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FX78 grades versus the P70 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax P70

 FX78 P70 
RevealedJanuary 2011March 2009Fresher by 24 months
Screen sizing3.5"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.8")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Panasonic FX78

 P70 FX78 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax P70

 FX78 P70 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX78 features outer measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Pentax P70 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FX78 versus Pentax P70 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the FX78 and the P70.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FX78 and P70 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading technical specs. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FX78 and P70.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact resolution so you can expect similar quality of images however you should really take the age of the products into consideration. The more modern FX78 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography details
Pentax P70 Portrait photography details
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography highlights
Pentax P70 Street photography highlights
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than others (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Sports photography camera
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography factors
Pentax P70 Travel photography factors
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery life (200 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.5)
56
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (155 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax P70 Landscape photography highlights
36
relatively wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
32
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax P70 as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
25
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than others (155 grams)
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax P70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax Optio P70
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-01-25 2009-03-02
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
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 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1400 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 grams (0.31 pounds) 155 grams (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 life 200 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $210 $200