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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS60
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 ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The ZS50 was revealed 14 months after the K-500 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the ZS50 matches up versus the K-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K-500

 ZS50 K-500 
RevealedJanuary 2015November 2013More modern by 14 months
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS50

 K-500 ZS50 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-500

 ZS50 K-500 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS50 has exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS50 versus the K-500.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and K-500 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS50 and K-500.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS50 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-500 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more modern ZS50 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS50
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
42
you can focus manually
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (243g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
43
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography features
Pentax K-500 Travel photography features
66
lighter than competition (243g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
67
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
51
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
34
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (243g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax K-500
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 12.00 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, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 243 grams (0.54 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 44 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 13.1
DXO Low light rating 138 1087
Other
Battery life 300 shots 710 shots
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $350 $600