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Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
64
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ100
  • New Model is Panasonic FZ300
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the FZ200 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the FZ200 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The FZ200 was brought out 16 months earlier than the K-500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the FZ200 grades against the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ200 over the Pentax K-500

 FZ200 K-500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FZ200

 K-500 FZ200 
ReleasedNovember 2013July 2012Fresher by 16 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ200 and Pentax K-500

 FZ200 K-500 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ200 comes with physical measurements of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") having a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the FZ200 against the K-500.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ200 and K-500 is 65 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over technical specs. The graphic here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ200 and K-500.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FZ200 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-500 will offer you more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older FZ200 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
48
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000s)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Street photography features
Pentax K-500 Street photography features
57
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (588g)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
46
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
good battery (540 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
great battery pack (710 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ200
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
55
good battery (540 shots)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (588g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
great battery pack (710 shots)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography factors
48
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
good battery (540 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse mode
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Vlogging details
Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
63
quite wide (25mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition (588 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Panasonic FZ200 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ200 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Pentax K-500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-07-18 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VII FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,312k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/4000 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (240, 120, 30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588g (1.30 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 37 79
DXO Color Depth rating 19.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 13.1
DXO Low light rating 114 1087
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 710 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $499 $600