Clicky

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2011
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5 IIs
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-5, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the S1 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The S1 was manufactured around the same time to the K-5 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the S1 scores against the K-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Pentax K-5

 S1 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic S1

 K-5 S1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-5

 S1 K-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2011December 2010Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic S1 provides physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the S1 against the K-5.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and K-5 is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the S1 and K-5.

Clearly, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S1 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-5 will offer more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography info
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Sports photography highlights
27
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 Travel photography info
62
lighter than competition (117g)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography features
32
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 Pentax K-5
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-01-05 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV 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 surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117 gr (0.26 lb) 740 gr (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 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 240 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $269 $800