Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500
92 Imaging
37 Features
39 Overall
37
64 Imaging
58 Features
70 Overall
62
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
- Introduced July 2011
- Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
- Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 51600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Introduced November 2013
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Overview
Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZS8 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively similar but the ZS8 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe ZS8 was unveiled 3 years before the K-500 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief overview of how the ZS8 matches up against the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 & Pentax K-500. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS8 Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax K-500
ZS8 | K-500 |
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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS8
K-500 | ZS8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | November 2013 | July 2011 | More modern by 28 months | |
Manually focus | Very accurate focus | |||
Screen resolution | 921k | 230k | Crisper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-500
ZS8 | K-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
Screen sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent screen measurement | |
Selfie screen | Neither includes selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly screen | Neither includes Touch friendly screen |
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS8 features outside measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has proportions 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 out the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the ZS8 vs the K-500.
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and K-500 is 92 and 64 respectively.
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS8 and K-500.
Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS8 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will offer you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS8 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 | Pentax K-500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 | Pentax K-500 |
Also Known as | Lumix DMC-TZ18 | - |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Introduced | 2011-07-19 | 2013-11-27 |
Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Venus Engine FHD | PRIME M |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.7 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 372.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Peak resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4928 x 3264 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 51600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 11 |
Cross type focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
Lens zoom range | 24-384mm (16.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 3cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | TFT LCD | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.61x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/6000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 2.0 frames per sec | 6.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | - | 1/180 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
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 | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 210 gr (0.46 lb) | 646 gr (1.42 lb) |
Dimensions | 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") | 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 | 340 shots | 710 shots |
Battery form | Battery Pack | AA |
Battery ID | - | 4 x AA |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $275 | $600 |