Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax Q7

Here is a in depth assessment of the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax Q7, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is very similar but the FP5 (1/2.3") and Q7 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The FP5 was brought out 3 years earlier than the Q7 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the FP5 scores versus the Q7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 & Pentax Q7. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FP5 Gallery & Pentax Q7 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP5 features exterior measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q7 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax Q7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the FP5 compared to the Q7.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FP5 and Q7 is 95 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specs. The graphic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP5 and Q7.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FP5 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic FP5 will deliver more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older FP5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.