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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax RZ18, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was introduced 7 months prior to the RZ18 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the FX78 grades against the RZ18 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax RZ18

 FX78 RZ18 
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic FX78

 RZ18 FX78 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2011More modern by 7 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax RZ18

 FX78 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX78 comes with physical measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the FX78 vs the RZ18.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FX78 and RZ18 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes just by researching specs. The pic below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FX78 and RZ18.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Pentax RZ18 to render more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged FX78 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography advice
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than average (178g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography advice
56
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (200 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
71
lighter than average (178g)
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography highlights
36
fairly wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
49
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging advice
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging advice
33
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (178g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax Optio RZ18
Also called Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-25 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1400s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142 grams (0.31 lbs) 178 grams (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $210 $210