Pentax K-500 vs Panasonic FZ2500

Cameras
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Pentax K-500 vs Panasonic FZ2500

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APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-500 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-500.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 480.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic FZ2500 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic FZ2500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the FZ2500.
Compare Panasonic FZ2500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic FZ2500 conclusion.

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Differences

Pentax K-500 advantages over Panasonic FZ2500

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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

710 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
71 mm vs 134 mm
Thinner
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic FZ2500 advantages over Pentax K-500

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
8 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x vs 0.61x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
11.4 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 30 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/6000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read FZ2500 User Reviews

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Buy the Pentax K-500

Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses

Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses
Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All K-500 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic FZ2500

Panasonic FZ2500 (Black)

All FZ2500 Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-500, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-500 First Shots

Rugged camera body with many physical controls; Generally excellent image quality & high ISO performance for its class; Versatile zoom lens; Fast and accurate autofocus; Unlimited 4K video recording; Fast full-res burst mode with generous buffers.
Continuous autofocus performance struggles at telephoto end; Slow buffer clearing (no UHS-II support); Lens produces soft corners at most focal lengths.
Read our Panasonic FZ2500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A57

Pentax K-500

Sony A57

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$800
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Sony A57

Panasonic FZ2500

Sony A57

$948
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Sony A57

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax K-500

Pentax K-5 IIs

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Top deck display

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Panasonic FZ2500

Pentax K-5 IIs

$948
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Canon T5i

Pentax K-500

Canon T5i

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Canon T5i

Panasonic FZ2500

Canon T5i

$948
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$539
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Canon T5i

Compared to Panasonic FZ1000

Pentax K-500

Panasonic FZ1000

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$773
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Panasonic FZ2500

Panasonic FZ1000

$948
1 inch

Touchscreen
More telephoto lens reach

$773
1 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Pentax K-500

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$899
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Panasonic FZ2500

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$948
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$899
1 inch

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

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