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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80 Comparison

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Panasonic FX48

12 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Panasonic FX48
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Pentax WS80

10 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Pentax WS80
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Panasonic FX48, which was introduced in January 2009 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Pentax WS80, which was introduced in August 2009 is a Waterproof camera with a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is only 6 months difference between FX48 and WS80 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic FX48 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-01-27
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 25-125 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.5" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2 fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 150g. 95 x 53 x 22 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-FX40

Pentax WS80 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-08-05
  • 10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 35-175 mm F3.8-4.7 Zoom Lens
  • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 125g. 92 x 60 x 22 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 over Pentax Optio WS80
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
12 MP vs 10 MP 19% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
11 vs 9 2 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps 1 fps faster
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 35mm 10 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.80 faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage
6.0m vs 3.4m 2.6m longer range


Reasons to choose Pentax Optio WS80 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 2.5" 0.2 inches larger display
Weight
125 g vs 150 g 25 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
175mm vs 125mm 50 mm longer tele reach
Max Aperture - Tele
4.70 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Max Video Resolution
1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 and Pentax Optio WS80
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 and Pentax Optio WS80
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.5" vs 2.7" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic FX48 has external dimensions of 95 x 53 x 22 mm (3.74 x 2.09 x 0.87″) and weighs 150 g (0.33 lb / 5.29 oz) (including batteries). Pentax WS80 has external dimensions of 92 x 60 x 22 mm (3.62 x 2.36 x 0.87″) and weighs 125 g (0.28 lb / 4.41 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax WS80 is significantly lighter (25g ) than the Panasonic FX48 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

FX48
WS80
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

FX48
WS80
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax WS80's 2.7" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic FX48's 2.5" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic FX48 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Pentax WS80 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Prime processor.

Below you can see the FX48 and WS80 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 Cameras


Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic FX48 features a 25-125 mm F2.8-5.9 5× zoom lens whereas Pentax WS80 features a 35-175 mm F3.8-4.7 5× zoom lens.

Panasonic FX48 has 10mm wider coverage than the Pentax WS80. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Pentax WS80 has 50mm longer reach than the Panasonic FX48. At f4.70, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

FX48
WS80
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

FX48
WS80
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

FX48
WS80
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

FX48
WS80
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic FX48 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Pentax WS80 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax WS80 for Street Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.80
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax WS80 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
11 Focus Points
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3000s
125 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
175 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax WS80 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
150g
Body Thickness 22mm
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
125g
Body Thickness 22mm
Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax WS80 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax WS80: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic FX48 and Pentax WS80 scores compare:

Panasonic FX48
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #299 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #930 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Pentax WS80
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #264 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #870 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Pentax WS80 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic FX48 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic FX48
Panasonic FX48
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Pentax WS80
Pentax WS80
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Pentax WS80 vs Panasonic FX48 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax Optio WS80
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Announced 2009-01-27 2009-08-05
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 27.72mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 6400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 64 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-125 mm (5×) 35-175 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F2.8-5.9 F3.8-4.7
Macro Focus Range 5cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3000s 1/1500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m 3.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 640 x 480 1280 x 720
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 150g 125g
Dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm 92 x 60 x 22mm
Battery Life n/a n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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