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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Launched July 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ200
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the FZ300 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the FZ300 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The FZ300 was revealed 20 months after the K-500 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FZ300 scores against the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Pentax K-500

 FZ300 K-500 
RevealedJuly 2015November 2013Newer by 20 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FZ300

 K-500 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-500

 FZ300 K-500 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ300 offers physical dimensions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") along with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the FZ300 vs the K-500.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ300 and K-500 is 59 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The image here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ300 and K-500.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FZ300 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger FZ300 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Street photography advice
Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
59
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
weather proofing
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (691g)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
high shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
great battery power (710 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
59
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
weather proofing
provides touch to focus
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
heavier than competition (691g)
low MP (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
great battery power (710 per charge)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (710 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-500 Vlogging highlights
62
decently wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition (691 grams)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Pentax K-500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-07-16 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
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) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
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 Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum 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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691g (1.52 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 710 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $598 $600