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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-30
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-50, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ8 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The SZ8 was announced 2 months later than the K-50 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SZ8 matches up vs the K-50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax K-50

 SZ8 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic SZ8

 K-50 SZ8 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-50

 SZ8 K-50 
IntroducedJanuary 2014November 2013Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ8 enjoys outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ8 vs the K-50.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and K-50 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by reading specs. The graphic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and K-50.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The SZ8 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh more difficult.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
very good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography details
Pentax K-50 Sports photography details
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography information
Pentax K-50 Travel photography information
67
lighter than competition in class (159g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
56
environment proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (650g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography info
42
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (159g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (650g)
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax K-50
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-01-06 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 1600 51600
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT 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
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 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 Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 grams (0.35 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 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 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 200 shots 410 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $275 $610