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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS60
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS50 was launched 20 months after the K-5 IIs which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the ZS50 grades versus the K-5 IIs in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 ZS50 K-5 IIs 
RevealedJanuary 2015June 2013More modern by 20 months
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic ZS50

 K-5 IIs ZS50 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 ZS50 K-5 IIs 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS50 features external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the ZS50 versus the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS50 and K-5 IIs is 90 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at specs. The image underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS50 and K-5 IIs.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS50 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-5 IIs will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher ZS50 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography highlights
42
manual focus
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (243g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography advice
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography details
66
lighter than average (243g)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
65
weather sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
51
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging factors
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (243 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax K-5 IIs
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 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
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 243 grams (0.54 lbs) 760 grams (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 44 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.0 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 14.1
DXO Low light rating 138 1208
Other
Battery life 300 images 980 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $350 $749