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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Revealed January 2011
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
  • Announced September 2011
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax RZ18, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FP5 was revealed 8 months before the RZ18 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the FP5 scores vs the RZ18 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Pentax RZ18

 FP5 RZ18 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic FP5

 RZ18 FP5 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2011Newer by 8 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax RZ18

 FP5 RZ18 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP5 comes with outside dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax RZ18 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the FP5 versus the RZ18.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP5 and RZ18 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions simply by looking at technical specs. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP5 and RZ18.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Pentax RZ18 to resolve more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged FP5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Portrait photography features
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography features
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
36
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Street photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (178 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (260 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
65
better than average battery power (260 per charge)
offers touch focus
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
lighter than competition in class (178g)
environment proof
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
40
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
better than average battery power (260 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
49
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proof
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
30
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
30
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (178g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-05 2011-09-12
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 10cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Touch Screen LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.90 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 141 gr (0.31 lb) 178 gr (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $199 $210