Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax Q

Below is a in-depth review of the Panasonic FZ300 versus Pentax Q, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ300 (12MP) and the Q (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ300 was released 4 years later than the Q and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FZ300 grades vs the Q with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 & Pentax Q. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FZ300 Gallery & Pentax Q Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ300 has outer dimensions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") and a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ300 versus Pentax Q in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the FZ300 and the Q.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ300 and Q is 59 and 93 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The graphic below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ300 and Q.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same megapixels so you can expect similar quality of images though you will want to factor the age of the products into consideration. The more modern FZ300 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.