Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7
95 Imaging
35 Features
31 Overall
33


84 Imaging
63 Features
71 Overall
66
Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs
(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
- Released January 2011
- Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
- Revealed December 2011

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview
Let's look much closer at the Panasonic FX78 versus Sony NEX-7, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the FX78 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

The FX78 was introduced 10 months before the NEX-7 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the FX78 grades versus the NEX-7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 and Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic FX78 Gallery and Sony NEX-7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Sony NEX-7
FX78 | NEX-7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen sizing | 3.5" | ![]() | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Panasonic FX78
NEX-7 | FX78 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | December 2011 | ![]() | January 2011 | Newer by 10 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Very exact focus | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Sony NEX-7
FX78 | NEX-7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen |
Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison
If you're intending to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX78 features outer measurements of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).
Look at the Panasonic FX78 versus Sony NEX-7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the FX78 against the NEX-7.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and NEX-7 is 95 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specifications. The image underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FX78 and NEX-7.
Plainly, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FX78 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony NEX-7 will show more detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged FX78 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 | Sony Alpha NEX-7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 | Sony Alpha NEX-7 |
Also referred to as | Lumix DMC-FX77 | - |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Advanced Mirrorless |
Released | 2011-01-25 | 2011-12-13 |
Body design | Compact | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Venus Engine FHD | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 6000 x 4000 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 16000 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens focal range | 24-120mm (5.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/2.5-5.9 | - |
Macro focus distance | 5cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen sizing | 3.5" | 3" |
Resolution of screen | 230k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Screen tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1400 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 4.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 5.60 m | 6.00 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
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) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 142 gr (0.31 lb) | 400 gr (0.88 lb) |
Dimensions | 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") | 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 81 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 24.1 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1016 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 200 images | 430 images |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at launch | $210 | $699 |