Panasonic ZS80 vs Pentax K-5

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS80 vs Pentax K-5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the ZS80 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The ZS80 was revealed 7 years later than the K-5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZS80 matches up versus the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 & Pentax K-5. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS80 Gallery & Pentax K-5 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS80 has exterior dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS80 vs Pentax K-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the ZS80 compared to the K-5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS80 and K-5 is 86 and 60 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The visual below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS80 and K-5.

As you have seen, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS80 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic ZS80 will provide greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent ZS80 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.