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Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is very close but the FH8 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH8 was manufactured 22 months prior to the K-500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the FH8 grades vs the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Pentax K-500

 FH8 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FH8

 K-500 FH8 
RevealedNovember 2013January 2012More recent by 22 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Pentax K-500

 FH8 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FH8 offers exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FH8 versus the K-500.

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and K-500 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH8 and K-500.

Clearly, both the cameras posses the exact same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The FH8 features the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF trickier. The older FH8 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (123 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
very good ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Sports photography details
Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (710 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-500 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than average (123 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
67
great battery (710 shots)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
43
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Vlogging info
Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than average (123g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 123g (0.27 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 260 shots 710 shots
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $149 $600