Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FX78
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
ZS20

Updated (January, 2013): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 vs Panasonic Lumix ZS30

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

62

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78

60

  

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Size
 Really small
Compact 105x59x28 mm
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Thickness
 Thin
1.1"
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.5
Screen size
 Large screen
3.5"
Size
 Really small
Super compact 99x55x20 mm
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Thickness
 Thin
0.8"
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FX78
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.5 vs f/3.3
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-FX78's lens captures slightly more light (0.8 f-stops)
Screen size Much larger screen 3.5" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 20% larger screen
Size Significantly smaller 99x55x20 mm vs 105x59x28 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 142 g vs 206 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 0.8" vs 1.1"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $99.00 vs $299.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $200 cheaper (3x less)
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.6 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FX78

Advantages of the Panasonic ZS20
Zoom Much more zoom 20x vs 5x
Help
 16x more zoom
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 220 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 40% closer to the lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The ZS20's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1300s
Help
 Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Learn more about
the Panasonic ZS20
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
60 vs 62
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a compact with a travel zoom.

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
24 mm
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-FX78
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix ZS20
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$325 - $349
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-FX78
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix ZS20

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50

Sony Cyber-shot WX50

Ultra compact

$100 - $190
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
3D Takes 3D photos
Screen size Much smaller screen
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Cyber-shot WX50 vs the Lumix DMC-FX78
Samsung MV900F MultiView

Samsung MV900F MultiView

Compact
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Screen size Smaller screen
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the MV900F MultiView vs the Lumix DMC-FX78
Placeholder

Samsung ST150F

Ultra compact

$99
Size Smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen size Much smaller screen
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the ST150F vs the Lumix DMC-FX78
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30

Compact
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed
Screen size Much smaller screen
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Compare the Lumix DMC-FX30 vs the Lumix DMC-FX78
Samsung EX2F

Samsung EX2F

Pro digicam

$299 - $440
Aperture Much wider aperture
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Size Significantly larger
Compare the EX2F vs the Lumix DMC-FX78

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix ZS30

Panasonic Lumix ZS30

Travel zoom

$399
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the Lumix ZS30 vs the Lumix ZS20
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$259 - $269
Supports 24p Supports 24p
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Lumix ZS20
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Travel zoom

$300 - $378
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen No touch screen
Size Significantly larger
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the Lumix ZS20
Nikon Coolpix S9500

Nikon Coolpix S9500

Travel zoom

$327
Zoom More zoom
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Coolpix S9500 vs the Lumix ZS20
Panasonic Lumix ZS25

Panasonic Lumix ZS25

Travel zoom

$298 - $300
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Weight Lighter
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix ZS25 vs the Lumix ZS20

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

discussion

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