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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-5 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the K-5 II (16MP) is very well matched but the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K-5 II (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The SZ1 was announced 17 months prior to the K-5 II making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SZ1 grades against the K-5 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K-5 II

 SZ1 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic SZ1

 K-5 II SZ1 
ReleasedJune 2013January 2012Newer by 17 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-5 II

 SZ1 K-5 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ1 enjoys physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-5 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ1 versus the K-5 II.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and K-5 II is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking a spec sheet. The image underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and K-5 II.

Clearly, both of these cameras have got the exact same megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The SZ1 uses the tinier sensor which should make obtaining bokeh harder. The more aged SZ1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 II
34
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Street photography highlights
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (131 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography details
70
lighter than average in class (131 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
environment proofing
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 II
43
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 II
32
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (131g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax K-5 II
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 131 gr (0.29 lbs) 760 gr (1.68 lbs)
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 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 980 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $179 $830