Panasonic S1R vs Pentax K-5 IIs

In this article, we are reviewing the Panasonic S1R and Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the S1R (47MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the S1R (Full frame) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The S1R was announced 5 years later than the K-5 IIs and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S1R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the S1R matches up versus the K-5 IIs with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R and Pentax K-5 IIs. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic S1R Gallery and Pentax K-5 IIs Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S1R features exterior measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1020 grams (2.25 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic S1R and Pentax K-5 IIs in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the S1R compared to the K-5 IIs.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the S1R and K-5 IIs is 54 and 60 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through specs. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S1R and K-5 IIs.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The S1R having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic S1R will result in greater detail with its extra 31MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more recent S1R provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.