Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax W80

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax W80, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the W80 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was announced 3 years later than the W80 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SZ5 scores versus the W80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 and Pentax Optio W80. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic SZ5 Gallery and Pentax W80 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ5 has got physical measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Pentax W80 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax W80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ5 versus the W80.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ5 and W80 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Normally, its difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ5 and W80.

As you can tell, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic SZ5 to give you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger SZ5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.