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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Announced January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-S2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the FX48 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the FX48 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The FX48 was announced 7 years earlier than the K-S2 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the FX48 matches up vs the K-S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax K-S2

 FX48 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic FX48

 K-S2 FX48 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2009More modern by 73 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-S2

 FX48 K-S2 
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX48 features 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-S2 has sizing of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the FX48 and the K-S2.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX48 and K-S2 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reading specs. The picture below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FX48 and K-S2.

All in all, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FX48 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-S2 will offer more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged FX48 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography info
27
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
78
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Street photography information
Pentax K-S2 Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than average in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography factors
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.4 fps)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Travel photography details
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography details
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
environment proofing
decent megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
more heavy than average in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography factors
33
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging info
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging info
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
71
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (678g)
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax K-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax K-S2
Also called as Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-27 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 lb) 678g (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 410 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $325 $581