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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS5 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-5 IIs and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the ZS5 scores versus the K-5 IIs in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 ZS5 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic ZS5

 K-5 IIs ZS5 
ReleasedJune 2013June 2010More recent by 36 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 ZS5 K-5 IIs 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS5 provides exterior dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS5 against the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ZS5 and K-5 IIs is 92 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The visual underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS5 and K-5 IIs.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS5 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 IIs will show more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older ZS5 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography information
27
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (214g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography highlights
63
lighter than others in class (214g)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
65
weather proofing
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
33
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than others in class (214g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax K-5 IIs
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-06-16 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 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
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lb) 760 grams (1.68 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $749