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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Launched January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Replaced the Pentax Q
  • Updated by Pentax Q7
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax Q10, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FX78 (12MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was manufactured 19 months earlier than the Q10 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the FX78 grades vs the Q10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax Q10

 FX78 Q10 
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Panasonic FX78

 Q10 FX78 
LaunchedSeptember 2012January 2011Fresher by 19 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax Q10

 FX78 Q10 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX78 features physical measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Pentax Q10 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax Q10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the FX78 against the Q10.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FX78 and Q10 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through a spec sheet. The visual below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FX78 and Q10.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of images however you would want to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The older FX78 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
48
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography details
Pentax Q10 Street photography details
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (200g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q10 Sports photography factors
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
36
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FX78
Travel photography with Pentax Q10
56
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery (200 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
60
lighter than competition in class (200 grams)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Landscape photography camera
36
quite wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual exposure
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
54
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q10 Vlogging factors
33
quite wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (200g)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax Q10
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax Q10
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax Q10
Also called Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-01-25 2012-09-10
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD 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 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1400 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/2000 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 grams (0.31 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.9
DXO Low light score not tested 183
Other
Battery life 200 shots 270 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $210 $350