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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Pentax K-50
(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
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-30
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-50, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS5 was revealed 4 years prior to the K-50 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZS5 matches up versus the K-50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax K-50

 ZS5 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic ZS5

 K-50 ZS5 
IntroducedNovember 2013June 2010More modern by 42 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-50

 ZS5 K-50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS5 has outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-50 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the ZS5 versus the K-50.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and K-50 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The image underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS5 and K-50.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS5 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-50 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged ZS5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
27
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (214 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
more heavy than average (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-50 Travel photography factors
63
lighter than others (214g)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
56
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery (410 shots)
more heavy than average (650 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-50
33
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS5
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than others (214 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than average (650 grams)
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax K-50
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-06-16 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 214g (0.47 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
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 Single Single
Pricing at launch $300 $610