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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ1 was brought out 13 months later than the K-5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ1 scores versus the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K-5

 SZ1 K-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2012December 2010Fresher by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic SZ1

 K-5 SZ1 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-5

 SZ1 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ1 has external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ1 against the K-5.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and K-5 is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and K-5.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The SZ1 offers the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF tougher. The more modern SZ1 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography info
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography features
Pentax K-5 Street photography features
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-5 Sports photography factors
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 Travel photography information
70
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography features
43
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 Vlogging factors
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic support
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax K-5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax K-5
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-09 2010-12-18
Physical type 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
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
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 4cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (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 data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 131 gr (0.29 lbs) 740 gr (1.63 lbs)
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 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 250 shots 980 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - 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
Cost at launch $179 $800