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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS50
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
  • Revealed November 2013
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS45 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is very similar but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS45 was unveiled 14 months after the K-500 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the ZS45 scores versus the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax K-500

 ZS45 K-500 
RevealedJanuary 2015November 2013Newer by 14 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS45

 K-500 ZS45 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-500

 ZS45 K-500 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS45 offers exterior dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS45 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS45 and the K-500.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS45 and K-500 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The picture below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS45 and K-500.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got the exact same resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The ZS45 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF trickier. The younger ZS45 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography details
37
good MP (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography information
Pentax K-500 Street photography information
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (249g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
55
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery life (350 CIPA)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
good battery pack (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
71
good battery life (350 shots)
lighter than average in class (249g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
good battery pack (710 shots)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
47
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
good battery life (350 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-500 Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (249g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax K-500
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
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 21 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 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 data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 gr (0.55 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" 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 350 images 710 images
Battery format Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $300 $600