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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax RZ18, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FH5 was announced 8 months before the RZ18 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the FH5 matches up against the RZ18 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Pentax RZ18

 FH5 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic FH5

 RZ18 FH5 
IntroducedSeptember 2011January 2011Fresher by 8 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax RZ18

 FH5 RZ18 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH5 has got external measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the FH5 compared to the RZ18.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and RZ18 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing specs. The visual here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH5 and RZ18.

All in all, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of photos but you might want to take the production date of the cameras into account. The older FH5 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography factors
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
36
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography information
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography information
71
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
71
lighter than competitors (178g)
environment proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography information
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography information
38
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
33
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
30
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Pentax Optio RZ18
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-05 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121 gr (0.27 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $169 $210