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Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
68
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ60
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 493g - 120 x 81 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ62
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic FZ60 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ60 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the FZ60 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ60 was released 16 months earlier than the K-500 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ60 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the FZ60 grades versus the K-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ60 over the Pentax K-500

 FZ60 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FZ60

 K-500 FZ60 
IntroducedNovember 2013July 2012Newer by 16 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ60 and Pentax K-500

 FZ60 K-500 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ60 has external dimensions of 120mm x 81mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 493 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ60 versus Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the FZ60 vs the K-500.

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ60 and K-500 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through specs. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ60 and K-500.

All in all, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The FZ60 offers the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field tougher. The more aged FZ60 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ60 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
44
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ60 Street photography factors
Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (493g)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ60 Sports photography information
Pentax K-500 Sports photography information
55
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ60
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
57
better than average battery life (450 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (493g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ60 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography information
50
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (450 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ60 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
27
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
heavier than competition in class (493g)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic FZ60 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ60 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60 Pentax K-500
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ62 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-07-18 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 51600
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Screen LCD Display TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 202k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 493 grams (1.09 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 81 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 450 shots 710 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $350 $600