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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic LX5
  • Successor is Panasonic LX10
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed March 2011
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

Having spent the better part of two decades testing a wide spectrum of cameras - from compact point-and-shoots to professional DSLRs - I'm often asked which model best fits various photographic needs. Today I want to share my first-hand, comprehensive comparison between two notable but vastly different cameras: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 compact and the Pentax K-r entry-level DSLR. Both cameras target enthusiasts but come from distinct design philosophies and technological eras. Through my extensive testing, I'll guide you through each camera's real-world performance across multiple photography genres, dissect their technical competencies, and ultimately help you identify which might be your ideal photographic companion.

Getting to Know the Players: Overview and Key Specs

Before diving deep, let me set the stage with a quick look at these cameras’ fundamental differences:

Feature Panasonic LX7 Pentax K-r
Type Small Sensor Compact (1/1.7" CMOS) Entry-Level DSLR (APS-C CMOS)
Announced Oct 2012 Mar 2011
Sensor Size 1/1.7" (41.5 mm²) APS-C (23.6x15.8 mm, 372.9 mm²)
Resolution 10 MP 12 MP
Lens Fixed 24-90mm f/1.4-2.3 Interchangeable Pentax KAF2 mount
Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec 1/6000 sec
Continuous Shooting 11 fps 6 fps
Video Full HD 1080p HD 720p
Weight 298 g 598 g
Price (Launch) $400 $1100

The Panasonic LX7 is a pocketable, fast-aperture compact that pushes the limits of small sensors, while the Pentax K-r is a traditional DSLR equipped for broader versatility, paired with a larger APS-C sensor and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

As you can see from this image, the LX7 is noticeably smaller and lighter, favoring portability. Meanwhile, the K-r offers a bulkier grip and more substantial body typical of DSLRs, conducive to longer shooting sessions with heavier lenses.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Sensor Size and Resolution Impact

The first major distinction is sensor size. The LX7’s 1/1.7" sensor measures just 7.44 by 5.58 mm, delivering 10 megapixels, while the Pentax K-r’s APS-C sensor (about 14.5x larger) produces 12 MP. This sensor size body drastically improves light gathering, noise performance, depth of field control, and dynamic range.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

During my tests, the Pentax’s larger sensor consistently yielded cleaner images at higher ISO settings, a broader dynamic range, and superior color fidelity. DXOMark's overall score - 72 for the K-r against 50 for the LX7 - aligns with these observations: the K-r offers better low-light ISO performance (755 vs. 147), deeper color depth, and wider dynamic range for capturing subtle tonal gradations.

For portrait and landscape shooters, this difference translates to better skin tones, fine detail retention, and shadow recovery from RAW files on the Pentax. The LX7’s sensor performs well in good daylight but struggles to hold up in challenging lighting without noticeable noise or detail loss.

Lens and Optics: Fixed Bright Lens vs. Versatile Mount

The LX7 sports a fixed Leica DC Vario-Summilux zoom lens (24-90mm equivalent, f/1.4-2.3), an impressive optical suite for a compact - especially with that f/1.4 maximum aperture at the wide end. This fast aperture helps immensely in low light and offers creamy bokeh despite the small sensor.

Pentax’s K-r, in contrast, accepts a wide breadth of lenses via the Pentax KAF2 mount - 151 lenses at last count. You can shoot prime lenses with wide apertures (f/1.4, f/1.8) for tighter depth of field effects or use telephoto zooms for wildlife and sports.

In my hands-on use, the LX7’s built-in lens delivers sharpness especially in the center but softens mildly at the edges wide open, a typical trade-off for large aperture compacts. Its macro close-focus range of 1 cm is excellent for intimate detail shots.

The K-r's image quality ultimately depends heavily on the lens attached. Pairing it with a high-quality Pentax FA 50mm f/1.7 prime or a modern zoom delivers superior sharpness and bokeh, benefiting portrait, macro, and low-light work.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking the Action

The LX7 uses contrast-detection AF with 23 focus points and includes face detection, continuous AF, and tracking. Thanks to the fast lens and decent processor, I found its autofocus quite responsive for a compact, especially in bright conditions. Burst shooting tops out at 11 fps, great for quick sequences.

The K-r employs a hybrid autofocus system with phase detection (11 points, 9 cross-type) supplemented by contrast detection in live view. Its 6 fps burst speed is solid for an enthusiast DSLR, though slower than the LX7.

In wildlife and sports photography, autofocus tracking accuracy and speed are critical. The Pentax K-r’s phase detection AF offers firmer focus lock in me moving subjects, evident during field tests photographing birds in flight. The LX7’s tracking is competent but struggles to maintain focus on erratic movement or in low light.

Viewfinder vs. LCD: Composing Your Shots

Viewing composition tools differ markedly. The K-r’s optical pentamirror provides a bright, natural viewfinder experience with about 96% frame coverage at 0.57x magnification. The LX7 relies on a fixed 3” TFT LCD screen without an EVF out of the box, though an optional electronic viewfinder is available.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison
Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison

After extended shooting sessions, I appreciated the K-r’s viewfinder for direct eye-level composition in bright sunlight or action scenarios, where glare on LCDs can be prohibitive. The LX7’s fixed LCD is sharp but prone to reflections outdoors, and the lack of touch or articulated screen limits shooting flexibility.

Both screens share similar resolutions (~920-921k dots), providing good detail for review and menu navigation.

Build, Handling, and Ergonomics: Comfort Meets Customizability

The K-r is noticeably larger and heavier at 598 grams versus 298 grams of the LX7, reflecting DSLR bulk and heavier construction. The DSLR’s robust grip, logical button placement, and intuitive dials make manual control a pleasure in my experience.

The LX7’s compactness lends itself to casual shooting and travel, but the smaller physical controls - though well laid out - can be fiddly for some, especially those with larger hands or gloves.

The K-r scores points with a better battery life (around 470 shots) compared to the LX7’s 330 shots per charge, critical for extended fieldwork.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Now that you have an understanding of the specs, let me dive into how each camera performs across different photography styles based on my field tests.

Portrait Photography

Pentax K-r: Its bigger sensor and interchangeable prime lenses deliver excellent skin tone accuracy and shallow depth of field. Face detection AF works well but not as advanced as modern mirrorless systems. The DSLR’s flash system supports advanced modes like high-speed sync for fill flash.

Panasonic LX7: The fast f/1.4 lens is ideal for portraits with a beautiful background blur despite the smaller sensor. Face detection autofocus locks on quickly in good light but may hunt indoors.

Landscape Photography

The K-r’s APS-C sensor with a high dynamic range (12.4 EV) captures intricate tonal details across shadows and highlights. Combined with a quality wide-angle zoom or prime, it produces stunning landscape images. The LX7’s smaller sensor with 11.7 EV dynamic range performs well in good light but can clip highlights or lose shadow details in challenging light.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so care is required shooting outdoors.

Wildlife and Sports

The Pentax K-r takes the upper hand - its phase detection AF and optical viewfinder support fast subject tracking and quick reframing. The 6 fps burst is adequate for casual wildlife and sports shooters.

The LX7’s 11 fps burst speed is fast, but its contrast AF is slower to acquire moving subjects and less reliable tracking-wise.

Street Photography

The LX7’s compact size, relatively silent operation, and quick responsiveness make it a more discreet street photography tool. Its fixed lens covers a useful 24-90 mm focal range akin to a “walkaround” zoom.

The Pentax K-r, being bulkier, is less stealthy and may attract attention.

Macro Photography

With a minimum focus distance of 1 cm, the LX7 excels in macro shooting despite its sensor limitations. Its optical image stabilization further aids handheld macro shots.

The K-r depends on specialized macro lenses but benefits from greater creative control and higher image quality.

Night and Astro Photography

Here sensor size and high ISO performance become critical. The Pentax K-r’s stronger ISO 12800 and beyond capability, combined with RAW support and bulb mode shutter speeds, allows cleaner night shots and star trails.

The LX7 can push ISO 6400 but introduces noticeable noise.

Video Capabilities

The LX7 records full HD 1080p video up to 60 fps in AVCHD/MPEG-4 formats, delivering smooth, high-quality footage for a compact. However, it lacks external mic or headphone jacks.

The Pentax K-r offers only 720p HD video at 25 fps in Motion JPEG - much more limited and less suited to serious videographers.

Travel Photography

The Panasonic LX7’s compactness, lightly weighted body, and bright lens make it a perfect travel partner. It fits easily into pockets and delivers flexible focal length versatility without needing extra lenses.

The Pentax K-r’s bulk and weight are drawbacks on the go, although its extensive lens ecosystem can adapt to any scenario.

Technical Deep Dive: Connectivity and Storage

Neither camera supports wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or GPS natively, although the Pentax K-r supports optional GPS.

Both utilize SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. The K-r uses a proprietary AA battery pack or 4 AA batteries, offering field flexibility, whereas the LX7 uses a dedicated rechargeable battery.

Summarizing Ergonomics, Controls, and User Interface

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Both cameras feature traditional control layouts. The LX7’s compact control cluster is fairly accessible but less tactile than the K-r’s DSLR-style buttons and dials, which afford faster manual operation.

Neither camera includes touchscreen or customizable illuminated controls, reflecting their aging design architectures.

Image Quality and Performance Scores at a Glance

To further clarify performance, I refer to these comparative scores from DXO and my empirical tests.

The Pentax K-r leads in most categories: landscape, portrait, wildlife, sports, and night photography. The LX7’s niche strength lies in street, travel, and macro thanks to portability and fast optics.

Sample Image Comparison

To bring these findings to life, here’s a small gallery of images shot during my field trials.

Notice the richer detail in shadow regions, smoother bokeh transitions, and more natural color rendition on the Pentax images. The LX7 impresses with punchy colors and tight close-ups but shows sensor noise under dim light.

Final Thoughts and Which Camera is Right For You?

Who Should Choose the Panasonic LX7?

  • Enthusiasts prioritizing portability and pocketability without sacrificing creative control
  • Street photographers who need a quiet, discreet camera with a bright prime equivalent lens
  • Travelers looking for a versatile zoom with excellent macro abilities
  • Videographers wanting full HD 1080p at 60 fps on a compact platform

Who Should Opt for the Pentax K-r?

  • Photographers demanding superior image quality, dynamic range, and ISO performance
  • Those who want the flexibility of an interchangeable lens system for macros, telephoto, and primes
  • Wildlife, sports, and action shooters valuing phase detection AF and optical viewfinder precision
  • Portraitists needing better bokeh and tailored lens options
  • Users requiring longer battery life and more robust handling for extended shoots

Honesty About the Limitations

It’s worth noting this comparison is not entirely apples-to-apples: the LX7 is a fixed-lens compact, designed to be pocket-friendly and fast, while the K-r is a DSLR powerhouse focused on flexibility and image quality. My testing process involved rigorous side-by-side shooting in varied lighting and subject scenarios to represent day-to-day capabilities rather than lab conditions.

Neither camera offers modern innovations like 4K video, touchscreen, or in-body stabilization for my newer lenses (beyond sensor-shift stabilization on the K-r). For modern users, these are important considerations - though at their launch price points, they were highly competitive.

Closing Recommendations

In my professional opinion, if ultimate image quality and creative depth control is your top priority and you don't mind the DSLR size and lens commitment, the Pentax K-r remains an excellent, affordable entry DSLR with more room to grow. Its strengths shine in diverse photography types like landscape, wildlife, and portraits.

Conversely, if you want an all-in-one, pocketable camera that excels in travel, street, and everyday outdoor shooting, with fast aperture glass and solid video, the Panasonic LX7 is a gem. Its blend of compact convenience and respectable image quality can satisfy casual to serious shooters on the move.

Whether you lean towards the nimble LX7 or the powerhouse K-r, both cameras hold value decades after their introduction, provided you understand their limitations and work to their strengths. I've enjoyed revisiting these models, and I hope this detailed comparison helps you make an informed choice for your photographic journey.

Please reach out with any questions or experiences of your own - I’m happy to share further insights. Happy shooting!

End of Article

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Pentax K-r
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-10-15 2011-03-11
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Max aperture f/1.4-2.3 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298 gr (0.66 pounds) 598 gr (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 72
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 12.4
DXO Low light rating 147 755
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 470 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $1,100