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Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
73
Overall
59
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic LX100
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 393g - 115 x 66 x 55mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LX100 II
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic LX100 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the LX100 (13MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is pretty similar but the LX100 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The LX100 was brought out 16 months later than the K-5 IIs which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the LX100 matches up vs the K-5 IIs with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 LX100 K-5 IIs 
IntroducedSeptember 2014June 2013Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic LX100

 K-5 IIs LX100 

Common features in the Panasonic LX100 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 LX100 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution921k921kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LX100 offers external measurements of 115mm x 66mm x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") with a weight of 393 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

See the Panasonic LX100 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the LX100 against the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the LX100 and K-5 IIs is 83 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the LX100 and K-5 IIs.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The LX100 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-5 IIs will deliver greater detail having its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger LX100 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography highlights
70
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (13 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX100 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
76
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
fixed screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography info
67
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (13 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LX100
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
75
includes touch focus
megapixel count decent (13MP)
really wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LX100
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
73
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.7)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (13MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX100 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Vlogging camera
35
really wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.7)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX100 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2014-09-15 2013-06-04
Body design Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4112 x 3088 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-75mm (3.1x) -
Largest aperture f/1.7-2.8 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,764 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 393g (0.87 lbs) 760g (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 66 x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 14.1
DXO Low light rating 553 1208
Other
Battery life 300 photos 980 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $800 $749