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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
50
Features
58
Overall
53

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 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
  • Released January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Released December 2007
  • Older Model is Konica Minolta 7D
  • New Model is Sony A77
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Panasonic FX78 and Sony A700, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FX78 (12MP) and the A700 (12MP) is very comparable but the FX78 (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The FX78 was announced 3 years later than the A700 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the FX78 scores versus the A700 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Sony A700

 FX78 A700 
ReleasedJanuary 2011December 2007Fresher by 38 months
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Panasonic FX78

 A700 FX78 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Sony A700

 FX78 A700 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX78 enjoys outside measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Sony A700 has proportions of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") along with a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FX78 and Sony A700 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the FX78 vs the A700.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FX78 and A700 is 95 and 58 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FX78 and A700.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The FX78 offers the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging. The more modern FX78 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A700 as a Portrait photography camera
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography info
Sony A700 Street photography info
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FX78
Sports photography with Sony A700
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography highlights
Sony A700 Travel photography highlights
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery (200 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
49
environment sealing
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FX78
Landscape photography with Sony A700
35
relatively wide (24mm)
lovely big screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
no liveview feature
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A700 as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
9
no video recording
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Sony A700
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-01-25 2007-12-19
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.6x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1400 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142g (0.31 lb) 768g (1.69 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 581
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One 2
Retail pricing $210 $1,000