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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FX550
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
  • Released February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-S2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FX580 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the FX580 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The FX580 was introduced 7 years before the K-S2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the FX580 grades vs the K-S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Pentax K-S2

 FX580 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic FX580

 K-S2 FX580 
ReleasedFebruary 2015January 2009More recent by 73 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-S2

 FX580 K-S2 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX580 has physical dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-S2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the FX580 vs the K-S2.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the FX580 and K-S2 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The visual here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FX580 and K-S2.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FX580 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will give more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older FX580 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography details
26
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
78
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Street photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Street photography advice
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
great ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competition in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Sports photography details
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography details
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
slow fps (5.4 fps)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FX580
Travel photography with Pentax K-S2
58
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
environment proof
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography advice
36
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proof
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FX580
Vlogging with Pentax K-S2
30
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
71
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (678g)
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 Pentax K-S2
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX550 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-27 2015-02-10
Physical type 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 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lb) 678 grams (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $499 $581