Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K100D

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic FH5 versus Pentax K100D, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and K100D (6MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FH5 was manufactured 4 years after the K100D which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the FH5 scores against the K100D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 and Pentax K100D. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FH5 Gallery and Pentax K100D Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FH5 enjoys external dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Pentax K100D has specifications of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FH5 versus Pentax K100D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the FH5 against the K100D.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FH5 and K100D is 96 and 64 respectively.

Often, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FH5 and K100D.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FH5 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic FH5 will render extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern FH5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.