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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX40
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Announced May 2012
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the FX48 (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the FX48 (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The FX48 was unveiled 4 years prior to the K-01 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the FX48 grades versus the K-01 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax K-01

 FX48 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Panasonic FX48

 K-01 FX48 
AnnouncedMay 2012January 2009More recent by 40 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-01

 FX48 K-01 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FX48 provides external dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has specifications of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the FX48 compared to the K-01.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FX48 and K-01 is 95 and 76 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The visual here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FX48 and K-01.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FX48 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-01 will offer greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older FX48 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FX48
Portrait photography with Pentax K-01
27
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Street photography advice
Pentax K-01 Street photography advice
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Sports photography details
Pentax K-01 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (540 per charge)
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-01 Travel photography factors
58
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
great battery power (540 shots)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography details
33
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FX48
Vlogging with Pentax K-01
30
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-01
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax K-01
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax K-01
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-01-27 2012-05-30
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
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 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 pounds) 561g (1.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1135
Other
Battery life - 540 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $325 $899