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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Old Model is Panasonic FZ200
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic FZ300 versus Pentax K-01, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the FZ300 (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the FZ300 (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The FZ300 was released 3 years later than the K-01 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FZ300 grades vs the K-01 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Pentax K-01

 FZ300 K-01 
ReleasedJuly 2015May 2012Fresher by 39 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Panasonic FZ300

 K-01 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-01

 FZ300 K-01 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ300 enjoys outside dimensions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has proportions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") along with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ300 versus Pentax K-01 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the FZ300 versus the K-01.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ300 and K-01 is 59 and 76 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ300 and K-01.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FZ300 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-01 will render more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern FZ300 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Street photography information
Pentax K-01 Street photography information
59
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
weather sealing
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (691g)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
more heavy than competition (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ300
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (540 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ300
Travel photography with Pentax K-01
59
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
weather sealing
offers touch focus
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
more heavy than competition in class (691 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
good battery life (540 CIPA)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
more heavy than competition (561g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography info
52
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging details
Pentax K-01 Vlogging details
62
reasonably wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone port
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (691g)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competition (561 grams)
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-01
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Pentax K-01
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Pentax K-01
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-07-16 2012-05-30
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
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
Number of focus points 49 81
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691g (1.52 lbs) 561g (1.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 540 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $598 $899