Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax E70

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Panasonic FZ80 versus Pentax E70, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the FZ80 (18MP) and E70 (10MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FZ80 was released 8 years after the E70 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax E70 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FZ80 matches up versus the E70 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Pentax Optio E70. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic FZ80 Gallery and Pentax E70 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ80 features exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") and a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) whilst the Pentax E70 has specifications of 94mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FZ80 versus Pentax E70 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the FZ80 compared to the E70.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ80 and E70 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The picture below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ80 and E70.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic FZ80 to give you more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The newer FZ80 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.