Panasonic FP1 vs Pentax K-5

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic FP1 and Pentax K-5, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the FP1 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the FP1 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FP1 was introduced 11 months prior to the K-5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP1 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the FP1 scores vs the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 & Pentax K-5. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FP1 Gallery & Pentax K-5 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FP1 has physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FP1 and Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the FP1 and the K-5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FP1 and K-5 is 95 and 60 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FP1 and K-5.

As you can see, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FP1 having a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Pentax K-5 will provide greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older FP1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.