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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS8
(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
Pentax K-500
(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
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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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax K-500

 ZS8 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic ZS8

 K-500 ZS8 
IntroducedNovember 2013July 2011More modern by 28 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-500

 ZS8 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
very good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography details
Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
69
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
good battery pack (710 per charge)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
44
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (710 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
30
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax 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