Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K20D

The following is a in depth assessment of the Panasonic LS5 versus Pentax K20D, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the LS5 (14MP) and the K20D (15MP) is very well matched but the LS5 (1/2.3") and K20D (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The LS5 was manufactured 3 years after the K20D which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the LS5 matches up vs the K20D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 & Pentax K20D. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic LS5 Gallery & Pentax K20D Gallery.

If you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic LS5 enjoys outer measurements of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has sizing of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic LS5 versus Pentax K20D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the LS5 and the K20D.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LS5 and K20D is 94 and 59 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The image here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the LS5 and K20D.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The LS5 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K20D will resolve greater detail due to its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer LS5 will have an edge in sensor innovation.