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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • Updated by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Panasonic ZS20 versus Pentax K-5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the ZS20 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS20 was manufactured 17 months later than the K-5 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS20 grades against the K-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Pentax K-5

 ZS20 K-5 
ReleasedApril 2012December 2010Fresher by 17 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic ZS20

 K-5 ZS20 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-5

 ZS20 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS20 comes with physical measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS20 versus Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS20 versus the K-5.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and K-5 is 92 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through specifications. The photograph underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS20 and K-5.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS20 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-5 will resolve more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more recent ZS20 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography info
30
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
Street photography with Pentax K-5
65
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than others in class (206g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 Travel photography details
68
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
weather proofing
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography information
42
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
Pentax K-5 Vlogging info
34
really wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Pentax K-5
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-04-26 2010-12-18
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS 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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206 gr (0.45 pounds) 740 gr (1.63 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 980 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $349 $800