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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and K-5 II (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was revealed 5 years before the K-5 II and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the FS42 grades vs the K-5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax K-5 II

 FS42 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic FS42

 K-5 II FS42 
LaunchedJune 2013April 2009More recent by 50 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-5 II

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

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 provides physical dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 II has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FS42 versus the K-5 II.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and K-5 II is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and K-5 II.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FS42 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 II will result in extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography details
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Street photography highlights
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
low max ISO (1,000)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography information
16
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
no phase detect auto focus
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
weather sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography info
22
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging features
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic port
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax K-5 II
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-04-17 2013-06-04
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 surface area 24.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1000 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 6.3 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 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 rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1235
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $580 $830