Clicky

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP 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
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Revealed January 2017
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and KP (24MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and KP (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The ZS5 was launched 7 years earlier than the KP which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the ZS5 scores versus the KP in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax KP

 ZS5 KP 

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Panasonic ZS5

 KP ZS5 
RevealedJanuary 2017June 2010Newer by 80 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax KP

 ZS5 KP 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS5 enjoys outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax KP has sizing of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS5 and the KP.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and KP is 92 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The pic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS5 and KP.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS5 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax KP will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged ZS5 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax KP Portrait photography highlights
27
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
80
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax KP as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
76
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (819,200)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography info
Pentax KP Sports photography info
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
quiet shooting (1/24,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low battery life (390 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography features
Pentax KP Travel photography features
63
lighter than competitors (214g)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
61
weather sealing
good resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
low battery life (390 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax KP Landscape photography advice
33
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (819,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (390 per charge)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging info
Pentax KP Vlogging info
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than competitors (214g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly display
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax KP
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax KP
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax KP
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-06-16 2017-01-26
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II PRIME IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 819200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/6000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
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 (60i, 30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 gr (0.47 lbs) 703 gr (1.55 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 390 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots One One
Retail price $300 $747