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Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic TS1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 189g - 98 x 63 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT1
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS2
Pentax K-500
(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
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the TS1 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the TS1 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TS1 was released 5 years earlier than the K-500 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic TS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the TS1 scores against the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS1 over the Pentax K-500

 TS1 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic TS1

 K-500 TS1 
ReleasedNovember 2013January 2009Newer by 58 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS1 and Pentax K-500

 TS1 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic TS1 comes with external dimensions of 98mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 189 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the TS1 vs the K-500.

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the TS1 and K-500 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the TS1 and K-500.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TS1 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will offer more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged TS1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic TS1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
20
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS1 Street photography details
Pentax K-500 Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic TS1
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
61
weather sealing
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic TS1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
35
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic TS1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
28
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Panasonic TS1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS1 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 Pentax K-500
Also called Lumix DMC-FT1 -
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-27 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - 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
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 189 grams (0.42 lb) 646 grams (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 63 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 710 pictures
Battery form - AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $380 $600