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Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
87
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS70
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 322g - 112 x 67 x 41mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ90
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS60
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS80
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
  • Released November 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS70 (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the ZS70 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The ZS70 was revealed 3 years later than the K-500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS70 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS70 matches up versus the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS70 over the Pentax K-500

 ZS70 K-500 
ReleasedApril 2017November 2013Fresher by 42 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS70

 K-500 ZS70 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS70 and Pentax K-500

 ZS70 K-500 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS70 has got outside dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 322 grams (0.71 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS70 against the K-500.

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZS70 and K-500 is 87 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS70 and K-500.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS70 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS70 will provide greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern ZS70 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS70 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
54
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS70 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
76
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
includes touch focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS70 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
61
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery (380 shots)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (710 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS70 Travel photography information
Pentax K-500 Travel photography information
79
good battery (380 shots)
includes touch focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
great battery life (710 shots)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS70 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
62
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
good battery (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS70 Vlogging information
Pentax K-500 Vlogging information
74
really wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of external mic jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS70 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 Pentax K-500
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ90 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2017-04-19 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine PRIME M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 51600
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at Auto ISO) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 322g (0.71 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 380 shots 710 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $450 $600