Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500
95 Imaging
39 Features
34 Overall
37
64 Imaging
58 Features
70 Overall
62
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Launched November 2013
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview
Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is very close but the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.
Photography GlossaryThe SZ1 was brought out 22 months earlier than the K-500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ1 scores vs the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 & Pentax K-500. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ1 Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K-500
SZ1 | K-500 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic SZ1
K-500 | SZ1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | November 2013 | January 2012 | Fresher by 22 months | |
Manually focus | Very precise focusing | |||
Display resolution | 921k | 230k | Clearer display (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-500
SZ1 | K-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed display | |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent display sizing | |
Selfie screen | Absent selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly display | Neither offers Touch friendly display |
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 offers outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).
Check out the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ1 versus the K-500.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ1 and K-500.
As you can see, both the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The SZ1 provides the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF more challenging. The older SZ1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 | Pentax K-500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 | Pentax K-500 |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2012-01-09 | 2013-11-27 |
Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | PRIME M |
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 | 16MP | 16MP |
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 | 51600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 11 |
Cross type focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
Lens zoom range | 25-250mm (10.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/3.1-5.9 | - |
Macro focusing range | 4cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.61x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 8 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/6000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames per sec | 6.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.60 m | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | - | 1/180 seconds |
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) | 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 131 gr (0.29 lb) | 646 gr (1.42 lb) |
Dimensions | 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 79 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.1 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1087 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 250 images | 710 images |
Battery format | Battery Pack | AA |
Battery ID | - | 4 x AA |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $179 | $600 |