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Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic LZ30
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Panasonic LZ40 versus Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the LZ40 (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the LZ40 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The LZ40 was revealed 2 months later than the K-500 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the LZ40 grades versus the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Pentax K-500

 LZ40 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic LZ40

 K-500 LZ40 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ40 and Pentax K-500

 LZ40 K-500 
LaunchedJanuary 2014November 2013Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LZ40 provides outer dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs) while 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).

Contrast the Panasonic LZ40 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the LZ40 against the K-500.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the LZ40 and K-500 is 67 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the LZ40 and K-500.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LZ40 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic LZ40 will resolve more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a little more aggressively.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
40
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Street photography factors
Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
45
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competitors (524g)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
very good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
47
great zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-500 Travel photography factors
55
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (22mm)
great reach (924mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (524 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
67
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
44
really wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
27
really wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
comes with external microphone socket
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
more heavy than competitors (524 grams)
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
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Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ40 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 Pentax K-500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-01-06 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 22-924mm (42.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
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 1/1500 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.80 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 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 format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 524g (1.16 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 320 photographs 710 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
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 1 1
Cost at release $219 $600