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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ30
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the LZ20 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the LZ20 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The LZ20 was revealed 16 months earlier than the K-500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the LZ20 matches up against the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Pentax K-500

 LZ20 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic LZ20

 K-500 LZ20 
LaunchedNovember 2013July 2012Fresher by 16 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-500

 LZ20 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LZ20 features outer measurements of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has measurements 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 LZ20 and Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the LZ20 vs the K-500.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the LZ20 and K-500 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the LZ20 and K-500.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The LZ20 comes with the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult. The older LZ20 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ20
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
36
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ20
Street photography with Pentax K-500
45
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (499g)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
above average high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography information
Pentax K-500 Sports photography information
47
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery power (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LZ20
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
58
good battery (380 per charge)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (499g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
67
great battery power (710 per charge)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
45
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
good battery (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging information
Pentax K-500 Vlogging information
25
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (499 grams)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 Pentax K-500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-07-18 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-525mm (21.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.8 -
Macro focus range 2cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.80 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 499 gr (1.10 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 380 images 710 images
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $250 $600