Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K100D

Following is a complete assessment of the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K100D, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the FX580 (12MP) and K100D (6MP) and the FX580 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FX580 was revealed 2 years after the K100D which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the FX580 grades versus the K100D when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 & Pentax K100D. The full galleries are available at Panasonic FX580 Gallery & Pentax K100D Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic FX580 provides physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Pentax K100D has specifications of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K100D in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the FX580 compared to the K100D.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX580 and K100D is 95 and 64 respectively.

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FX580 and K100D.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FX580 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FX580 will produce extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher FX580 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.