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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax RZ18, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Pentax. The resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is very comparable but the K-500 (APS-C) and RZ18 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The K-500 was revealed 2 years after the RZ18 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the K-500 scores versus the RZ18 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax RZ18

 K-500 RZ18 
ReleasedNovember 2013September 2011More modern by 27 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Pentax K-500

 RZ18 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax RZ18

 K-500 RZ18 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax K-500 has outer measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the K-500 and the RZ18.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-500 and RZ18 is 64 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out technical specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-500 and RZ18.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras provide the same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The K-500 contains the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF simpler. The newer K-500 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography highlights
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
36
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Street photography factors
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
very good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competitors in class (178 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery power (710 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography highlights
67
good battery power (710 per charge)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competitors in class (178 grams)
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography features
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (710 per charge)
49
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
30
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (178g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax RZ18
 Pentax K-500Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-500 Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-11-27 2011-09-12
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 51600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 646 gr (1.42 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1087 not tested
Other
Battery life 710 shots -
Style of battery AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $600 $210