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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 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-500
(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
Photography Glossary

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.

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The 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.

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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 
LaunchedNovember 2013January 2012Fresher by 22 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-500

 SZ1 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
34
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography factors
Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography features
Pentax K-500 Sports photography features
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
70
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
good battery (710 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
43
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW formats
good battery (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
32
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax 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