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Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Superseded the Panasonic TS3
  • Successor is Panasonic TS5
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Following is a extended comparison of the Panasonic TS4 and Pentax K-500, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the TS4 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the TS4 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The TS4 was released 22 months earlier than the K-500 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the TS4 grades vs the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Pentax K-500

 TS4 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic TS4

 K-500 TS4 
RevealedNovember 2013January 2012More modern by 22 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS4 and Pentax K-500

 TS4 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic TS4 offers exterior measurements of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Panasonic TS4 and Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the TS4 and the K-500.

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the TS4 and K-500 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The pic below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TS4 and K-500.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TS4 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-500 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged TS4 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography info
21
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Street photography factors
Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
above average ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic TS4 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery (310 per charge)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery power (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
66
good battery (310 CIPA)
environment proofing
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
67
great battery power (710 per charge)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
41
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
good battery (310 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic TS4
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
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Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS4 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 Pentax K-500
Also called Lumix DMC-FT4 -
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-31 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 197 grams (0.43 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 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 310 photographs 710 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $399 $600