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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS8
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Old Model is Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS7 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the ZS7 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS7 was manufactured 8 months after the K-5 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the ZS7 scores vs the K-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Pentax K-5

 ZS7 K-5 
AnnouncedJuly 2011December 2010More modern by 8 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic ZS7

 K-5 ZS7 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax K-5

 ZS7 K-5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS7 has got external measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the ZS7 against the K-5.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS7 and K-5 is 91 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS7 and K-5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS7 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-5 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher ZS7 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS7
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
21
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (218 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 Sports photography information
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 Travel photography details
63
lighter than average (218 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography factors
38
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS7
Vlogging with Pentax K-5
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (218g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Pentax K-5
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ10 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-19 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 grams (0.48 pounds) 740 grams (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (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 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $350 $800