Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Pentax K-5

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Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Pentax K-5

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1/2.33 inch 28.2mm²
14.1 megapixels
25.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic DMC-FZ100 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the DMC-FZ100.

APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-5.

Succeeded by the Panasonic FZ150
Compare DMC-FZ100 vs FZ150

Succeeded by the Pentax K-5 II
Compare K-5 vs K-5 II

Compare PANASONIC FZ150 vs PENTAX K-5 II

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Differences

Panasonic DMC-FZ100 advantages over Pentax K-5

Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
11.2 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-5 advantages over Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.33 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 1.42 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.60 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

740 vs 410 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
73 mm vs 95 mm
Thinner
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More dots on screen
922k vs 460k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.34 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
16.3 vs 14.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
31 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-5 User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Read our Panasonic DMC-FZ100 Express Review

Excellent high ISO performance, one of the best APS-C sensors yet; 6.5 fps burst mode has very good buffer depths; Weather, dust, and cold resistant; In-body Shake Reduction corrects not only horizontal / vertical, but also rotational motion.
Default saturation and contrast a bit high; Auto white balance too warm in tungsten light; Fewer AF points than main competitors; Only a single card slot, and no UHS-I card support (slow buffer clearing).
Read our Pentax K-5 Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FZ40

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Panasonic DMC-FZ40

$500
1/2.33 inch

Tiltable Screen
Hot shoe

$400
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Panasonic DMC-FZ40

Pentax K-5

Panasonic DMC-FZ40

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$400
1/2.33 inch

Shoots 60p video
Longer exposure

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Panasonic DMC-FZ40

Compared to Sony HX100V

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Sony HX100V

$500
1/2.33 inch

RAW file ability
Hot shoe

$312
1/2.3 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Built-in GPS

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Sony HX100V

Pentax K-5

Sony HX100V

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$312
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX100V

Compared to Canon T3i

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Canon T3i

$500
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Canon T3i

Pentax K-5

Canon T3i

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Canon T3i

Compared to Nikon D5100

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Nikon D5100

$500
1/2.33 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoots 60p video

$650
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Nikon D5100

Pentax K-5

Nikon D5100

$800
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Top deck display

$650
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Panasonic FZ47

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Panasonic FZ47

$500
1/2.33 inch

Tiltable Screen
RAW file ability

$400
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Shoots 1080p video

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Panasonic FZ47

Pentax K-5

Panasonic FZ47

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$400
1/2.33 inch

Higher max flash sync
Shoots 60p video

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Panasonic FZ47

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