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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS20
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS15 was revealed 17 months prior to the K-500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the ZS15 scores vs the K-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax K-500

 ZS15 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS15

 K-500 ZS15 
IntroducedNovember 2013June 2012Fresher by 17 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-500

 ZS15 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS15 enjoys outer dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS15 and the K-500.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and K-500 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing just by going over a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS15 and K-500.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS15 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-500 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older ZS15 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
21
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography features
Pentax K-500 Street photography features
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
61
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery power (260 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
67
good battery pack (710 shots)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
37
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery power (260 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
33
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic support
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax K-500
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-06-29 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 dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - 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
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 grams (0.46 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
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 Overall 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 260 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $279 $600