Panasonic FZ35 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic FZ35 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the FZ35 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the FZ35 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FZ35 was released 3 years earlier than the K-5 IIs which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ35 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the FZ35 matches up vs the K-5 IIs in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 and Pentax K-5 IIs. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FZ35 Gallery and Pentax K-5 IIs Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ35 provides outer dimensions of 118mm x 76mm x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5") with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FZ35 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FZ35 vs the K-5 IIs.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FZ35 and K-5 IIs is 72 and 60 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ35 and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FZ35 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 IIs will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged FZ35 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.