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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax WG-2 GPS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and WG-2 GPS (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was introduced 12 months earlier than the WG-2 GPS which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the FX78 grades vs the WG-2 GPS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 FX78 WG-2 GPS 
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Panasonic FX78

 WG-2 GPS FX78 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2011More recent by 12 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 FX78 WG-2 GPS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FX78 has got outer dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 GPS has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax WG-2 GPS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the FX78 compared to the WG-2 GPS.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and WG-2 GPS is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FX78 and WG-2 GPS.

To sum up, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax WG-2 GPS to render more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older FX78 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography factors
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
40
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography info
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
54
weather sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography highlights
28
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
38
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography info
56
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
70
weather sealing
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography information
36
really wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging advice
33
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone jack
30
quite wide (28mm)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Also called as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2011-01-25 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
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 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1400s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142 gr (0.31 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 260 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
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 card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $210 $300