Panasonic Lumix FH22 vs Pentax K-5: A Deep-Dive Comparison for Photographers Who Demand More

Choosing your next camera is rarely straightforward - especially when one contender is a compact, approachable shooter designed for casual use, and the other a robust, mid-size DSLR crafted for serious enthusiasts and professionals. In this comparison, I’ll break down what the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22 (FH22) and the Pentax K-5 bring to the table, drawing on extensive hands-on testing experience and technical expertise accumulated over thousands of hours with cameras across genres.

I’ll dissect every element that matters - from sensor tech and image quality to ergonomics, autofocus system, video performance, and suitability for diverse photography styles. Whether you’re a travel blogger, wildlife photographer, or professional looking for reliability, this article will equip you with the insights you need to make an informed decision.

First Impressions and Build: Compact Convenience vs. Rugged Ergonomics

When you unpack these cameras, the difference in design philosophy hits you immediately. The Panasonic FH22 is a small sensor compact camera weighing only 170 grams, with slim dimensions of 100 x 57 x 27 mm. Its pocketable body caters to spontaneous shoots, street photography, and effortless travel. In contrast, the Pentax K-5, a mid-size DSLR, tips the scales at 740 grams, and measures 131 x 97 x 73 mm - its larger grip and beefier frame scream “professional-grade” reliability.

Holding the FH22, you appreciate its lightness and simplicity; it slips easily into a small bag or large pocket. The tactile feedback is minimal - buttons are flat, and the lens barrel doesn’t zoom or focus quickly. The K-5’s grip is deeply contoured, giving you confidence when holding long telephoto lenses - the kind wildlife and sports shooters demand. Weather sealing adds an important layer of hardness here; the K-5 is built to withstand sweat, mist, and moderate dust exposure, a feature entirely absent from the FH22.

Control Layout and Handling

The FH22’s control layout revolves around minimal buttons and a straightforward menu system. The real estate is limited, reflecting the single fixed lens system and lack of customizable controls. It offers a fixed 3-inch touchscreen that is responsive but basic.

By comparison, the K-5's torso is equipped with dedicated dials and buttons for shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, and shooting modes that can be customized extensively for quick operation in the field.

For professionals who crave full manual control at their fingertips - without diving into menus during a fast-paced shoot - the K-5 is a professional’s dream. Beginners or casual shooters will find the FH22’s simpler interface less intimidating but also limiting.

Sensor and Image Quality: From Compact Convenience to APS-C Excellence

Arguably the cornerstone of camera performance is sensor technology, and here the gulf between these two is striking. The Panasonic FH22 employs a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring just 6.08 x 4.56 mm with 14MP resolution. Tiny by modern standards, this sensor limits image quality, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities.

The Pentax K-5 sports a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor, 23.7 x 15.7 mm, with 16MP resolution. APS-C is the workhorse size for enthusiasts and professional-grade DSLRs, offering notably superior image fidelity.

On paper and in practice, this translates into meaningful differences:

• The K-5 produces images with greater color depth (23.7 bits vs. not tested on FH22), wider dynamic range (~14 stops vs. limited on FH22), and dramatically better high ISO performance (usable up to ISO 6400 on FH22, but noisy versus clean output up to ISO 12800 on the K-5).

• The CMOS technology in the K-5 also offers better noise handling and improved highlight retention compared to the older CCD in the FH22.

Users shooting large prints, landscapes, studio portraits, or any demanding scenario will find the K-5’s sensor unmistakably superior - delivering richer gradations, better shadow detail, and cleaner results in challenging lighting. The FH22 is more suited to casual snapshots shared on social media or quick travel images.

The LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Real-Time Feedback Revisited

An often-overlooked aspect of shooting comfort is the user interface, especially how you frame and review shots.

The FH22 incorporates a fixed 3-inch, 230k-dot touchscreen without any electronic or optical viewfinder. While the touchscreen is intuitive for casual use, its resolution and responsiveness lag behind modern standards. I found it useful but not ideal for precision manual framing or outdoor bright-light shooting.

By contrast, the K-5 sports a 3-inch, 921k-dot fixed TFT LCD, delivering detailed previews and smoother menu navigation. A decisive advantage is its optical pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.61x magnification, allowing shooting through the eyepiece with accuracy and accuracy, even in very bright or artificially lit conditions.

If you regularly shoot in bright daylight or prefer composing shots through a classical DSLR finder, the K-5 is far more comfortable. The FH22’s reliance on the LCD demands more patience in certain scenarios.

Autofocus Systems: Contrast Detection vs. Advanced Phase Detection

Autofocus performance is critical across all photography genres, especially fast-paced ones like sports, wildlife, and street.

The FH22 uses contrast-detection autofocus only, with 9 focus points that operate in single-shot mode exclusively. It lacks face detection, animal eye AF, or tracking functionalities. While contrast detection can be accurate for static subjects, it is slower and less reliable for moving targets.

The K-5 rises to every autofocus challenge via a hybrid system combining contrast-detection for live view and phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) with 11 points, including 9 cross-type sensors for superior precision. It supports face detection and has continuous AF tracking for subjects in motion, enhancing usability for wildlife and sports shooters. The K-5 can track subjects seamlessly and shoot at 7 frames per second in burst mode.

So, if you’re photographing action, the K-5’s AF system offers a decisive competitive edge. The FH22 is best suited for stable situations like portraits or landscapes where speed is less critical.

Versatility in Lenses and Optical Systems

Lens compatibility and ecosystem size often make or break a camera's overall value. The FH22 comes with a fixed 28-224mm equivalent zoom lens (F3.3-5.9); no option to swap it out limits creative control and reaches.

The K-5’s Pentax KAF2 mount supports over 150 available lenses, ranging from ultra-wide to super-telephoto primes and zooms, many with weather sealing. This versatility lets users tailor their system precisely for portraits, macro, astrophotography, or telephoto wildlife shooting. Pentax lenses also often feature durable construction matching the K-5 body’s weather resistance.

This flexibility of lens choice opens creative doors unavailable to almost any compact camera, including the FH22.

Real-World Shooting Scenarios Across Genres

With fundamental specs established, let’s assess how each camera fares in core photography disciplines based on expert testing.

Portrait Photography

K-5: Its larger sensor produces skin tones with natural gradations and excellent color fidelity. Eye detection autofocus ensures sharp focus on bindings that matter, and lens choice allows for shallow depth-of-field bokeh for flattering backgrounds. The K-5’s manual control over aperture helps artists sculpt light and depth creatively.

FH22: Limited by fixed aperture and sensor size, portraits appear flat and less refined, especially in challenging light. The lens's longer reach can sometimes help with candid shots, but lack of eye AF is noticeable.

Landscape and Nature

K-5: The 16MP APS-C sensor captures intricate detail and tonal subtleties, while weather sealing means you can shoot rain or dust without worry. Its dynamic range helps preserve shadows and highlights in scenes with extremes of brightness.

FH22: Struggles with wide dynamic range or fine detail in vast landscapes. However, it’s light, making it convenient for casual hikes where weather sealing isn’t crucial.

Wildlife and Sports

K-5: Optical viewfinder aids in tracking fast-moving subjects. Superior autofocus speed and burst rates capture decisive moments. Coupled with telephoto lenses, it's a beast for action.

FH22: Autofocus lag and slow continuous shooting make it inadequate for action. The compact’s small lens limits reach and subject isolation.

Street and Travel

FH22: Shines here due to its compact size, touchscreen usability, and 8x zoom that covers many shooting scenarios. Lightweight and portable, it’s a discreet companion for casual city roaming and travel snapshots.

K-5: Though larger, its usability improves with familiarity. The larger body and noise in autofocus could slow you down on the street, but low-light performance is superior for night scenes.

Macro Photographers and Night/Astro Enthusiasts

Macro: The FH22 has a modest 5cm minimum focusing distance but limited control impedes precision. The K-5, combined with specialist macro lenses, gives you full manual and autofocus control for sharp close-ups.

Night/Astro: K-5’s sensor size, higher ISO ceiling, and customizable exposure modes make it a standout choice for astrophotography and night scenes. The FH22 falls short in noise management and exposure versatility.

Video Capabilities: Modest vs. Semi-Professional

The FH22 offers 720p video at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - a basic feature for casual video recording. There's no microphone or headphone jack, limiting audio quality adjustments.

The K-5 advances this with 1080p Full HD video (25fps) and 720p options, microphone input for external mics, and HDMI output for external monitors. Though not rivals to dedicated video cameras, the K-5 delivers professional-grade video tools that can support independent projects and hybrid shooters.

Battery Life and Storage: Longevity and Convenience

The FH22, powered likely by proprietary compact batteries, offers limited shooting capacity typical of tiny compacts. Exact battery life data isn’t specified, but real-world use indicates lower durability for long shooting days.

The K-5’s D-LI90 battery is rated for 980 shots per charge, easily enabling a full day of shooting without recharge. Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with the K-5 supporting faster UHS-I cards ideal for burst shooting and video.

Connectivity and Extras: What’s Missing and What’s Included

Neither camera offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC connectivity - typical for their era but a gap by today's standards. The K-5 does provide HDMI output and a USB 2.0 port for file transfers and tethered shooting. The FH22’s USB 2.0 port is more limited, designed for straightforward image downloads.

The K-5 additionally offers optional GPS (via external add-on) and in-camera exposure and white balance bracketing, features lacking in the FH22.

Price-to-Performance Evaluation: What You Get for Your Money

At the time of their announcement and still roughly comparable today, the FH22 retails around $199, targeting beginners and casual shooters wanting instant shooting with minimal complexity.

The Pentax K-5, priced near $799, is a major investment aligned with those who demand robust build quality, superior image quality, and a professional-oriented feature set.

The price gap reflects the leap in technological capabilities and physical quality. The K-5’s robust enhancements in sensor, autofocus, customizability, and durability justify its premium for enthusiast and professional users who value image quality and shooting flexibility.

Performance Breakdown by Photography Genre

To summarize nuanced differences, here’s a genre-specific performance overview:

Final Verdict: Who Should Choose What?

Panasonic Lumix FH22 - The Casual Companion

If you’re just stepping into photography, or want a simple, ultra-portable camera for travel and street snaps, the FH22 delivers very decent images without hassle. Its zoom range covers many everyday scenarios, and the touchscreen guides beginners gently. Just don’t expect pro-level performance or extensive control.

• Best for: Casual snapshots, travel, street photography enthusiasts on a budget.
• Not recommended for: Professionals, sports/wildlife shooters needing speed and precision, large prints or advanced creative control.

Pentax K-5 - The Enthusiast’s DSLR Workhorse

The K-5 remains a legendary workhorse that punches well above its weight class today. It’s engineered for photographers who want high image quality, rugged reliability, fast autofocus, and full creative freedom with interchangeable lenses. It excels across all genres from portraits to action and low-light shooting.

• Best for: Enthusiasts and professionals demanding durable gear, superior image and video quality, extensive lens options.
• Not recommended for: Those unwilling to carry a larger camera or learn manual exposure controls.

Testing Methodology Notes

Our review involved months of hands-on shooting with both cameras across varying conditions - studio, urban, natural, and low light. We performed controlled lab tests for image quality, autofocus speed, and battery metrics, plus field tests for form-factor and ease of use.

By blending technical data with practical shooting insights, I aim to provide a transparent, trustworthy assessment you can rely on for your next camera purchase.

By carefully weighing your shooting needs, budget, and preferred photography style against the capabilities and limitations outlined here, you’ll find clarity - whether you opt for Panasonic’s straightforward snap-and-go FH22 or Pentax’s feature-rich, durable K-5 DSLR.

Panasonic FH22 front Panasonic FH22 screen back Pentax K 5 front Pentax K 5 screen back