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Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
91
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
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Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS10 versus Pentax K-500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZS10 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the ZS10 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The ZS10 was revealed 3 years prior to the K-500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS10 matches up vs the K-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS10 over the Pentax K-500

 ZS10 K-500 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS10

 K-500 ZS10 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2011More recent by 34 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS10 and Pentax K-500

 ZS10 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS10 comes with external measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS10 versus Pentax K-500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS10 compared to the K-500.

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS10 and K-500 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS10 and K-500.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS10 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-500 will give more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS10 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Street photography highlights
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition (219 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Sports photography features
Pentax K-500 Sports photography features
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Travel photography information
Pentax K-500 Travel photography information
67
lighter than competition (219g)
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
42
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS10 Vlogging info
Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (219g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS10 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS10 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Pentax K-500
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-25 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - 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
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 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
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 219 gr (0.48 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 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 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 260 photos 710 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $350 $600