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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-30
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-50, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is very similar but the FZ40 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The FZ40 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-50 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the FZ40 matches up vs the K-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Pentax K-50

 FZ40 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic FZ40

 K-50 FZ40 
IntroducedNovember 2013July 2010Fresher by 40 months
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-50

 FZ40 K-50 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ40 provides outside dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FZ40 vs the K-50.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and K-50 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and K-50.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FZ40 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-50 will offer more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older FZ40 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography advice
Pentax K-50 Street photography advice
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
43
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-50 Travel photography advice
54
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (494g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (410 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (650g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography info
51
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
bad battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging features
Pentax K-50 Vlogging features
23
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors (494g)
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Pentax K-50
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Pentax K-50
Also called as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-07-21 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 494 gr (1.09 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 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 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $420 $610