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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ20
  • New Model is Panasonic LZ40
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • New Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic LZ30 versus Pentax K-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is very comparable but the LZ30 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The LZ30 was launched 2 years later than the K-5 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the LZ30 grades against the K-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax K-5

 LZ30 K-5 
IntroducedJanuary 2013December 2010Fresher by 26 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic LZ30

 K-5 LZ30 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax K-5

 LZ30 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LZ30 enjoys outside dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Panasonic LZ30 versus Pentax K-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the LZ30 compared to the K-5.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LZ30 and K-5 is 66 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The photograph below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the LZ30 and K-5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide the same megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The LZ30 has got the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh tougher. The fresher LZ30 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography details
32
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Street photography factors
Pentax K-5 Street photography factors
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition (552 grams)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Sports photography highlights
47
incredible zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
great battery power (380 per charge)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 Travel photography advice
56
great battery power (380 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (875mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (552 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
45
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
great battery power (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
22
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
heavier than competition (552 grams)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax K-5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax K-5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2010-12-18
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-875mm (35.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 740 gr (1.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 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 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 380 shots 980 shots
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $230 $800