Clicky

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Introduced April 2007
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Panasonic L1 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) have different sensor size.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The L1 was announced 7 years prior to the K-5 IIs and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the L1 scores against the K-5 IIs in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

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

 L1 K-5 IIs 

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

 K-5 IIs L1 
LaunchedJune 2013April 2007More recent by 74 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k207kSharper display (+714k dot)

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

 L1 K-5 IIs 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic L1 comes with outside measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic L1 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the L1 vs the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and K-5 IIs is 65 and 60 respectively.

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

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The photograph below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and K-5 IIs.

To sum up, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The L1 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 IIs will provide you with greater detail with its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older L1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography info
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
58
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (606g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
no articulating screen
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography details
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (7MP)
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography info
50
lighter than competitors in class (606g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
65
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (7MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
exports RAW files
weather sealing
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2007-04-11 2013-06-04
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
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 surface 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 pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 207k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
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
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 file format - Motion JPEG
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 606 grams (1.34 lb) 760 grams (1.68 lb)
Physical 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 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $1,500 $749