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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 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
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic FX78 versus Pentax VS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was manufactured 12 months earlier than the VS20 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the FX78 grades against the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax VS20

 FX78 VS20 
Screen dimensions3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic FX78

 VS20 FX78 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2011Fresher by 12 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax VS20

 FX78 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FX78 offers outside dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FX78 versus Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FX78 versus the VS20.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and VS20 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FX78 and VS20.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Pentax VS20 to result in greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older FX78 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
36
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography info
Pentax VS20 Sports photography info
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography information
Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
56
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
68
lighter than others (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
36
rather wide (24mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging info
Pentax VS20 Vlogging info
33
rather wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have mic support
30
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax Optio VS20
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-25 2012-01-25
Physical type 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1400s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142 grams (0.31 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $210 $106