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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax K-500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SZ5 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ5 was announced 16 months before the K-500 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SZ5 matches up against the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Pentax K-500

 SZ5 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic SZ5

 K-500 SZ5 
AnnouncedNovember 2013July 2012Fresher by 16 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax K-500

 SZ5 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ5 offers outer measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax K-500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ5 and the K-500.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ5 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ5 and K-500.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ5 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-500 will resolve more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography advice
Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-500 Sports photography features
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery (710 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
70
lighter than average in class (136g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
67
better than average battery (710 per charge)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging info
Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-07-18 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 surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
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) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
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 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 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 format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136g (0.30 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 250 photos 710 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $195 $600