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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
65
Imaging
42
Features
38
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2007
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic L1 versus Pentax K-5 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The L1 was introduced 7 years before the K-5 II which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the L1 matches up against the K-5 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Pentax K-5 II

 L1 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic L1

 K-5 II L1 
AnnouncedJune 2013April 2007More modern by 74 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k207kCrisper screen (+714k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-5 II

 L1 K-5 II 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic L1 has external measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 II has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

See the Panasonic L1 versus Pentax K-5 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the L1 vs the K-5 II.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and K-5 II is 65 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by reading specifications. The pic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and K-5 II.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The L1 using its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-5 II will offer extra detail using its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged L1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography advice
55
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic L1
Street photography with Pentax K-5 II
58
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (606g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography advice
41
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic L1
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
50
lighter than average in class (606g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (7MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography details
48
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Pentax K-5 II
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2007-04-11 2013-06-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 7MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 3136 x 2352 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 207k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606g (1.34 pounds) 760g (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life - 980 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,500 $830