Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-5 II

Following is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic ZS100 versus Pentax K-5 II, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the ZS100 (1") and K-5 II (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The ZS100 was introduced 2 years after the K-5 II which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZS100 grades vs the K-5 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 and Pentax K-5 II. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS100 Gallery and Pentax K-5 II Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS100 has outside measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS100 versus Pentax K-5 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the ZS100 vs the K-5 II.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS100 and K-5 II is 87 and 60 respectively.

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The pic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS100 and K-5 II.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS100 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS100 will provide greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The younger ZS100 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.