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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LX7
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic LX5 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The LX5 was launched 17 months before the K-5 IIs which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the LX5 grades versus the K-5 IIs when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 LX5 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic LX5

 K-5 IIs LX5 
LaunchedJune 2013December 2011More modern by 17 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 LX5 K-5 IIs 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX5 comes with external measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LX5 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the LX5 vs the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the LX5 and K-5 IIs is 88 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by reading through specs. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the LX5 and K-5 IIs.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LX5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-5 IIs will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged LX5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
41
focusing manually
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LX5
Street photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (271 grams)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography highlights
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect AF
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography highlights
59
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (271 grams)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography details
52
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
no Timelapse function
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
exports RAW files
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Vlogging camera
29
pretty wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (271 grams)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-12-15 2013-06-04
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-3.3 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 4.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.20 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite 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 271g (0.60 lbs) 760g (1.68 lbs)
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 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 14.1
DXO Low light score 132 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 pictures
Battery form - 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $294 $749