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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Launched December 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX3
  • Updated by Panasonic LX7
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Old Model is Pentax K-7
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic LX5 versus Pentax K-5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and K-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The LX5 was brought out 13 months after the K-5 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the LX5 matches up versus the K-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Pentax K-5

 LX5 K-5 
ReleasedDecember 2011December 2010More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic LX5

 K-5 LX5 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-5

 LX5 K-5 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX5 provides outer dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LX5 versus Pentax K-5 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 vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the LX5 compared to the K-5.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LX5 and K-5 is 88 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through a spec sheet. The image here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the LX5 and K-5.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LX5 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 will resolve more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The younger LX5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
supports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
heavier than competition in class (271 grams)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Sports photography highlights
27
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LX5
Travel photography with Pentax K-5
59
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (271g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
65
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography advice
52
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
does not have Time Lapse recording
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 Vlogging features
29
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (271g)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Pentax K-5
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-12-15 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-3.3 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.20 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 pounds) 740 grams (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 41 82
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 14.1
DXO Low light score 132 1162
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $294 $800