Clicky

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The FS12 was released 4 years earlier than the K-01 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the FS12 scores against the K-01 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Pentax K-01

 FS12 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Panasonic FS12

 K-01 FS12 
IntroducedMay 2012April 2009Newer by 37 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax K-01

 FS12 K-01 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS12 features external measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has measurements of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the FS12 versus the K-01.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS12 and K-01 is 95 and 76 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by going through specifications. The image underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FS12 and K-01.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS12 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-01 will show more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FS12 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
Portrait photography with Pentax K-01
21
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
more heavy than competitors (561 grams)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery pack (540 shots)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
lack of phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography features
Pentax K-01 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
great battery pack (540 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
more heavy than competitors (561g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Landscape photography camera
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not available
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (540 shots)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
Pentax K-01 Vlogging features
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competitors (561 grams)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Pentax K-01
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Pentax K-01
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Pentax K-01
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-04-17 2012-05-30
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 81
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 31-124mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (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 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129g (0.28 pounds) 561g (1.24 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1135
Other
Battery life - 540 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $228 $899