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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic FP5 versus Pentax K-500, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is fairly similar but the FP5 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The FP5 was announced 3 years before the K-500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the FP5 grades versus the K-500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Pentax K-500

 FP5 K-500 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FP5

 K-500 FP5 
IntroducedNovember 2013January 2011Fresher by 35 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax K-500

 FP5 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP5 provides exterior measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FP5 versus Pentax K-500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the FP5 and the K-500.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP5 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP5 and K-500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FP5 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-500 will offer you extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older FP5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
33
MP count decent (14MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP5
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
good battery life (260 shots)
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery (710 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Travel photography features
Pentax K-500 Travel photography features
65
good battery life (260 CIPA)
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
67
great battery (710 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
40
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good battery life (260 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Vlogging information
Pentax K-500 Vlogging information
30
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Pentax K-500
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2013-11-27
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Touch Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.90 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 secs
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), 320 x 240 (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 Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141 gr (0.31 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 pictures 710 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $199 $600