Clicky

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The S1 was revealed 3 years earlier than the K-5 IIs which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the S1 grades vs the K-5 IIs when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 S1 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic S1

 K-5 IIs S1 
LaunchedJune 2013January 2011Newer by 29 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 S1 K-5 IIs 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic S1 features physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

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

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the S1 against the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the S1 and K-5 IIs is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching specifications. The image underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S1 and K-5 IIs.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S1 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-5 IIs will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged S1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography info
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Panasonic S1 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography information
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography details
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography info
62
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
65
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
exports RAW files
environment sealing
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S1 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging information
31
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Panasonic S1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-01-05 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum 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 117 grams (0.26 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 pounds)
Physical 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 All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1208
Other
Battery life 240 images 980 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $269 $749