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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and K-500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The FS42 was introduced 5 years earlier than the K-500 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FS42 grades against the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax K-500

 FS42 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FS42

 K-500 FS42 
ReleasedNovember 2013April 2009Newer by 56 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-500

 FS42 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 offers outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the FS42 against the K-500.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing technical specs. The picture here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and K-500.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-500 will deliver extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Pentax K-500
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
low max ISO (1,000)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
above average ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
16
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery (710 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
decent MP (16MP)
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-500
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic support
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax K-500
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-04-17 2013-11-27
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME M
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 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1000 51600
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 6.3 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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 Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 pictures
Battery type - AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $580 $600