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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Push 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
  • Old Model is Pentax K-7
  • Later Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic S2 versus Pentax K-5, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S2 (14MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is very well matched but the S2 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The S2 was introduced 13 months after the K-5 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the S2 grades vs the K-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Pentax K-5

 S2 K-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2012December 2010More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic S2

 K-5 S2 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S2 and Pentax K-5

 S2 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic S2 offers external measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S2 versus Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the S2 compared to the K-5.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the S2 and K-5 is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S2 and K-5.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S2 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-5 will resolve greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern S2 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S2 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic S2
Street photography with Pentax K-5
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (112 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
39
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
great battery pack (280 shots)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S2 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 Travel photography advice
70
great battery pack (280 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (112 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
weather sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
41
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
great battery pack (280 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S2 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-5 Vlogging advice
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than average in class (112 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S2 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 Pentax K-5
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 112g (0.25 pounds) 740g (1.63 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 280 shots 980 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $109 $800