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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Superseded the Panasonic FZ200
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the FZ300 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the FZ300 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The FZ300 was introduced 4 years after the K-5 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the FZ300 scores versus the K-5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Pentax K-5

 FZ300 K-5 
IntroducedJuly 2015December 2010Newer by 56 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic FZ300

 K-5 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-5

 FZ300 K-5 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ300 comes with physical measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the FZ300 vs the K-5.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ300 and K-5 is 59 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specifications. The pic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ300 and K-5.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FZ300 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-5 will give extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The younger FZ300 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography features
46
has manual focus
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
59
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
environment sealing
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (691g)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery life (380 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 Travel photography info
59
great battery life (380 CIPA)
environment sealing
comes with focus via touch
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
heavier than competition in class (691g)
resolution not great (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
52
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery life (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 Vlogging highlights
62
decently wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external mic support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition in class (691 grams)
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Pentax K-5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-07-16 2010-12-18
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Prime II
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
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
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 13.00 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 sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691g (1.52 lbs) 740g (1.63 lbs)
Dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $598 $800