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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
80
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ1000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 831g - 137 x 99 x 131mm
  • Introduced June 2014
  • Successor is Panasonic FZ2500
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-30
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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FZ1000 and Pentax K-50, one is a Large Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the FZ1000 (20MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the FZ1000 (1") and K-50 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The FZ1000 was introduced 7 months after the K-50 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ1000 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the FZ1000 grades vs the K-50 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 over the Pentax K-50

 FZ1000 K-50 
AnnouncedJune 2014November 2013More modern by 7 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic FZ1000

 K-50 FZ1000 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ1000 and Pentax K-50

 FZ1000 K-50 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution921k921kIdentical screen resolution
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ1000 comes with outer dimensions of 137mm x 99mm x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") having a weight of 831 grams (1.83 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FZ1000 and Pentax K-50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FZ1000 vs the K-50.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ1000 and K-50 is 55 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through specifications. The pic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ1000 and K-50.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FZ1000 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic FZ1000 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern FZ1000 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography details
70
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ1000
Street photography with Pentax K-50
70
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW formats
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
heavier than competition in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ1000
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
67
amazing zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
bad battery (410 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Travel photography camera
65
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (400mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery (410 shots)
heavier than competition in class (650 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography details
64
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
bad battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-50 Vlogging highlights
66
pretty wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic support
heavier than competition in class (650g)
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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ1000 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000Pentax K-50
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Pentax K-50
Class Large Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2014-06-12 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 51600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-400mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.0 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 12.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.50 m (at Auto ISO) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 831 grams (1.83 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 99 x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 13.0
DXO Low light rating 517 1120
Other
Battery life 360 photos 410 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLC12PP D-LI109
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $800 $610