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Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic FP7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 147g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Panasonic FP7 versus Pentax K-500, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FP7 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the FP7 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The FP7 was unveiled 3 years prior to the K-500 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the FP7 scores against the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Pentax K-500

 FP7 K-500 
Screen dimensions3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FP7

 K-500 FP7 
LaunchedNovember 2013January 2011Fresher by 35 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP7 and Pentax K-500

 FP7 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP7 comes with exterior dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FP7 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FP7 versus the K-500.

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FP7 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP7 and K-500.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The FP7 contains the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF trickier. The older FP7 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography information
34
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP7
Street photography with Pentax K-500
60
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (147 grams)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
very good ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP7 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
44
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
good battery (240 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (710 shots)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
63
good battery (240 shots)
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (147g)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
67
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
41
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
good battery (240 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FP7
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
29
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
heavier than competitors in class (147g)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
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Panasonic FP7 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP7 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 Pentax K-500
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2013-11-27
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
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 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Touch Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.90 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 147 gr (0.32 pounds) 646 gr (1.42 pounds)
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 240 pictures 710 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $227 $600