Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-500

The following is a complete analysis of the Panasonic LX5 versus Pentax K-500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and K-500 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The LX5 was announced 23 months earlier than the K-500 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the LX5 grades versus the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Pentax K-500. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic LX5 Gallery and Pentax K-500 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic LX5 provides outer 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-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LX5 versus Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the LX5 compared to the K-500.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX5 and K-500 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching specifications. The picture below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the LX5 and K-500.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The LX5 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will result in more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged LX5 will be behind in sensor tech.