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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax ist DL2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the FX78 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FX78 was announced 5 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FX78 matches up vs the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Pentax ist DL2

 FX78 ist DL2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011January 2006More recent by 61 months
Screen dimension3.5"2.5"Bigger screen (+1")
Screen resolution230k210kClearer screen (+20k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic FX78

 ist DL2 FX78 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax ist DL2

 FX78 ist DL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX78 offers external 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) while the Pentax ist DL2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

See the Panasonic FX78 and Pentax ist DL2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FX78 vs the ist DL2.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and ist DL2 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FX78 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FX78 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic FX78 will offer you greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern FX78 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FX78
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
50
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Street photography camera
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (565g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography details
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography factors
56
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (200 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
52
lighter than others (565g)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (6MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Landscape photography camera
36
really wide (24mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
46
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
missing Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging details
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging details
33
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
22
lighter than others (565g)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low ( pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Panasonic FX78 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Pentax ist DL2
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-01-25 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 5
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1400 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB 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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142g (0.31 lbs) 565g (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 200 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $210 -