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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Renewed by Panasonic LZ30
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-5 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the LZ20 (16MP) and the K-5 II (16MP) is fairly comparable but the LZ20 (1/2.3") and K-5 II (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The LZ20 was released 10 months prior to the K-5 II so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the LZ20 scores vs the K-5 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Pentax K-5 II

 LZ20 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic LZ20

 K-5 II LZ20 
AnnouncedJune 2013July 2012More recent by 10 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-5 II

 LZ20 K-5 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LZ20 has got outside dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-5 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the LZ20 against the K-5 II.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LZ20 and K-5 II is 71 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing specifications. The photograph underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LZ20 and K-5 II.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The LZ20 features the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier. The older LZ20 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography factors
36
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Street photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competitors in class (499 grams)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Sports photography camera
47
amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
good battery (380 per charge)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography info
58
good battery (380 per charge)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (525mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (499g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
65
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 II
45
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good battery (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging factors
25
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (499 grams)
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 Pentax K-5 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-07-18 2013-06-04
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-525mm (21.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.8 -
Macro focus range 2cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 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 data format Motion JPEG 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 499 gr (1.10 pounds) 760 gr (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life 380 images 980 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $250 $830