Clicky

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
68
Features
76
Overall
71

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Announced January 2017
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax KP, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and KP (24MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and KP (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The FS12 was brought out 8 years prior to the KP which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the FS12 matches up against the KP in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Pentax KP

 FS12 KP 

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Panasonic FS12

 KP FS12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2017April 2009More modern by 94 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax KP

 FS12 KP 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS12 enjoys outer dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax KP has dimensions of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") having a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax KP in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the FS12 versus the KP.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and KP is 95 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The picture underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and KP.

All in all, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FS12 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax KP will show greater detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged FS12 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax KP as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
Pentax KP as a Street photography camera
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (819,200)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
Sports photography with Pentax KP
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/24,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
not so great battery power (390 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography highlights
Pentax KP Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
weather proof
MP count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (390 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax KP Landscape photography highlights
28
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery power (390 per charge)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax KP as a Vlogging camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone port
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Pentax KP
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Pentax KP
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Pentax KP
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-04-17 2017-01-26
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 819200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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 (60i, 30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129 gr (0.28 pounds) 703 gr (1.55 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 390 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $228 $747