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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Announced July 2015
  • Previous Model is Panasonic FZ200
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the FZ300 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the FZ300 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) offer different sensor sizes.

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The FZ300 was announced 7 months prior to the K-1 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the FZ300 grades vs the K-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Pentax K-1

 FZ300 K-1 
Screen resolution1040k1037kCrisper screen (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic FZ300

 K-1 FZ300 
RevealedFebruary 2016July 2015Newer by 7 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-1

 FZ300 K-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ300 enjoys outside measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FZ300 compared to the K-1.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ300 and K-1 is 59 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking a spec sheet. The image below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ300 and K-1.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FZ300 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will give you greater detail with its extra 24MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FZ300 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography advice
46
focusing manually
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
85
has manual focus
MP count excellent (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Street photography info
Pentax K-1 Street photography info
59
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather proofing
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others (691 grams)
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
very good ISO range (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography info
Pentax K-1 Sports photography info
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count excellent (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
low battery power (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ300
Travel photography with Pentax K-1
59
good battery pack (380 per charge)
weather proofing
features touch to focus
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
heavier than others (691g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
53
environment proofing
MP count excellent (36MP)
low battery power (760 shots)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography details
52
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
81
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count excellent (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
low battery power (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
62
really wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic support
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than others (691g)
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Pentax K-1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Pentax K-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-07-16 2016-02-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 49 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691g (1.52 lb) 1010g (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.6
DXO Low light score not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 380 shots 760 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 1 2
Launch pricing $598 $1,499