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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic FX78 versus Sony HX20V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FX78 was announced 18 months before the HX20V making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the FX78 scores vs the HX20V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Sony HX20V

 FX78 HX20V 
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic FX78

 HX20V FX78 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2011Fresher by 18 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Sony HX20V

 FX78 HX20V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX78 has got external dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FX78 versus Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FX78 against the HX20V.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FX78 and HX20V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FX78 and HX20V.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX20V to offer extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older FX78 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FX78
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FX78
Street photography with Sony HX20V
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,400 seconds)
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 shots)
no phase detect AF
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
56
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery power (200 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
69
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography information
Sony HX20V Landscape photography information
36
quite wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (200 shots)
no Timelapse recording
50
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
33
quite wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-25 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1400 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142g (0.31 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 320 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $210 $397