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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 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
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic FX78 and Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FX78 (12MP) and the S950 (10MP) is very comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was revealed 24 months after the S950 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the FX78 grades vs the S950 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Sony S950

 FX78 S950 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2009Newer by 24 months
Display size3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Panasonic FX78

 S950 FX78 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Sony S950

 FX78 S950 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX78 offers outside dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony S950 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FX78 and Sony S950 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the FX78 and the S950.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FX78 and S950 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specs. The pic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FX78 and S950.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FX78 to provide greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The fresher FX78 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FX78
Portrait photography with Sony S950
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
26
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Street photography highlights
Sony S950 Street photography highlights
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FX78
Sports photography with Sony S950
28
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S950 as a Travel photography camera
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
50
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
36
relatively wide (24mm)
big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
31
has manual focus
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
9
no video
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Panasonic FX78 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Sony S950
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-25 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1400s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 gr (0.31 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $210 $130