Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-5

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 & Pentax K-5. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic S2 Gallery & Pentax K-5 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.