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Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic FZ2500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • 24-480mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 915g - 138 x 102 x 135mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ2000
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ1000
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Large Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the FZ2500 (20MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the FZ2500 (1") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ2500 was unveiled 3 years later than the K-5 IIs and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ2500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the FZ2500 matches up against the K-5 IIs in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ2500 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 FZ2500 K-5 IIs 
ReleasedSeptember 2016June 2013Fresher by 41 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic FZ2500

 K-5 IIs FZ2500 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 FZ2500 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ2500 has outside dimensions of 138mm x 102mm x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") having a weight of 915 grams (2.02 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the FZ2500 versus the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ2500 and K-5 IIs is 53 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ2500 and K-5 IIs.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FZ2500 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FZ2500 will give greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern FZ2500 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ2500
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
70
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography info
69
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Travel photography camera
66
includes touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
exports RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
66
quite wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone port
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Pentax K-5 IIs
Other name Lumix DMC-FZ2000 -
Category Large Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2016-09-19 2013-06-04
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 80 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
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 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.5 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.20 m (at Auto ISO) 13.00 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, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2060 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 915 gr (2.02 lbs) 760 gr (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 138 x 102 x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 82
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 14.1
DXO Low light rating 538 1208
Other
Battery life 350 images 980 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLC12 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $998 $749