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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • Updated by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-5, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and K-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was announced 20 months prior to the K-5 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the FS42 scores versus the K-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax K-5

 FS42 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic FS42

 K-5 FS42 
AnnouncedDecember 2010April 2009Fresher by 20 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-5

 FS42 K-5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 features external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the FS42 and the K-5.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and K-5 is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specifications. The visual below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and K-5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FS42 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 will give you more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography features
Pentax K-5 Street photography features
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
max ISO too low (1,000)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 Sports photography features
16
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
65
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
22
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 Vlogging information
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax K-5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax K-5
Category Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-04-17 2010-12-18
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1000 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 6.3 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 grams (0.29 pounds) 740 grams (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $580 $800