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Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS6 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic TS6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 110 x 67 x 29mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT6
  • Previous Model is Panasonic TS5
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 TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TS6 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively similar but the TS6 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TS6 was manufactured 14 months after the K-500 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic TS6 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the TS6 grades versus the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS6 over the Pentax K-500

 TS6 K-500 
ReleasedJanuary 2015November 2013More modern by 14 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic TS6

 K-500 TS6 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS6 and Pentax K-500

 TS6 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic TS6 enjoys outside dimensions of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the TS6 vs the K-500.

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TS6 and K-500 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TS6 and K-500.

As you can see, both cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The TS6 has got the tinier sensor which should make obtaining bokeh tougher. The newer TS6 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic TS6 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
37
decent MP (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS6 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic TS6 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
47
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery life (370 CIPA)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (710 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS6 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-500 Travel photography advice
72
great battery life (370 CIPA)
environment proof
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
67
great battery (710 shots)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic TS6
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
52
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment proof
great battery life (370 per charge)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic TS6 Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
33
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
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Panasonic TS6 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS6 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS6Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS6 Pentax K-500
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FT6 -
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214g (0.47 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 67 x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" 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 370 images 710 images
Battery style 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 1 1
Retail price $300 $600