Clicky

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2007
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Old Model is Pentax K10D
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K20D, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and K20D (15MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The L1 was released 14 months before the K20D which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the L1 grades vs the K20D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Pentax K20D

 L1 K20D 

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Panasonic L1

 K20D L1 
LaunchedJune 2008April 2007More modern by 14 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k207kCrisper screen (+23k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K20D

 L1 K20D 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic L1 enjoys outside dimensions of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") and a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Pentax K20D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K20D in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the L1 vs the K20D.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and K20D is 65 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The pic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L1 and K20D.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The L1 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K20D will render more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged L1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
Portrait photography with Pentax K20D
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (7MP)
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic L1
Street photography with Pentax K20D
58
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (606g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 Sports photography advice
Pentax K20D Sports photography advice
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (7 megapixels)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K20D Travel photography highlights
50
lighter than average (606 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (7MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
resolution is good (15MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no image stabilization
low MP (7 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is small (2.7 inches)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic L1
Vlogging with Pentax K20D
9
no video shooting
9
no video
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Pentax K20D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Pentax K20D
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Pentax K20D
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2007-04-11 2008-06-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 7MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 3136 x 2352 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 207 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 606 grams (1.34 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery ID - D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $1,500 $700