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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
53
Features
82
Overall
64

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Key Specs

Panasonic FX78
(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
  • Announced January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Announced September 2017
  • Replaced the Sony RX10 III
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Panasonic FX78 versus Sony RX10 IV, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the FX78 (12MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the FX78 (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The FX78 was manufactured 7 years before the RX10 IV which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FX78 matches up versus the RX10 IV when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Sony RX10 IV

 FX78 RX10 IV 
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Panasonic FX78

 RX10 IV FX78 
AnnouncedSeptember 2017January 2011Newer by 80 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kSharper display (+1210k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Sony RX10 IV

 FX78 RX10 IV 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FX78 enjoys outside 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) whilst the Sony RX10 IV has dimensions of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") having a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FX78 versus Sony RX10 IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the FX78 against the RX10 IV.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FX78 and RX10 IV is 95 and 52 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The image here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FX78 and RX10 IV.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FX78 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony RX10 IV will result in greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged FX78 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography information
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography information
21
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FX78
Street photography with Sony RX10 IV
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
64
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
environment proofing
more heavy than others in class (1,095g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Sports photography camera
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
excellent zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
high fps (24.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Travel photography advice
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography advice
56
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.5)
56
environment proofing
has bluetooth
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (1,095g)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography highlights
36
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
62
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Vlogging advice
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging advice
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
29
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than others in class (1,095g)
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Sony RX10 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-25 2017-09-12
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 315
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1400 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 142 gr (0.31 lbs) 1095 gr (2.41 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 images 400 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $210 $1,698