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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FX40
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic FX48 versus Pentax K-5 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the FX48 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the FX48 (1/2.3") and K-5 II (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The FX48 was released 5 years earlier than the K-5 II which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the FX48 grades against the K-5 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax K-5 II

 FX48 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic FX48

 K-5 II FX48 
ReleasedJune 2013January 2009More modern by 52 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-5 II

 FX48 K-5 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX48 offers physical dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FX48 versus Pentax K-5 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the FX48 compared to the K-5 II.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FX48 and K-5 II is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The pic below will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FX48 and K-5 II.

As you can tell, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FX48 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-5 II will show extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged FX48 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography info
27
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Street photography camera
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FX48
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
58
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography highlights
33
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging info
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging info
30
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax K-5 II
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-01-27 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/3000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150g (0.33 pounds) 760g (1.68 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" 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 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $325 $830