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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Replaced the Panasonic LX3
  • Successor is Panasonic LX7
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-7, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and K-7 (15MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and K-7 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The LX5 was launched 2 years after the K-7 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the LX5 matches up vs the K-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Pentax K-7

 LX5 K-7 
IntroducedDecember 2011October 2009Newer by 27 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic LX5

 K-7 LX5 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-7

 LX5 K-7 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LX5 has outside measurements 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-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the LX5 and the K-7.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LX5 and K-7 is 88 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specifications. The pic here will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the LX5 and K-7.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The LX5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-7 will give more detail utilizing its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The younger LX5 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography factors
41
manual focus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than average in class (271g)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Sports photography information
Pentax K-7 Sports photography information
27
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect autofocus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-7 Travel photography advice
59
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (271 grams)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
weather proofing
MP count good (15MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
52
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
lack of Timelapse function
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Vlogging details
Pentax K-7 Vlogging details
29
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (271 grams)
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Pentax K-7
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-12-15 2009-10-02
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 12800 2000
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-3.3 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 4.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.20 m 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 lbs) 750g (1.65 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 Overall rating 41 61
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 10.6
DXO Low light rating 132 536
Other
Battery life - 980 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $294 $599