Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax KP

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 & Pentax KP. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FS12 Gallery & Pentax KP Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.