Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Pentax K-500

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs Pentax K-500

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 - 51,200

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

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic DMC-FZ100 advantages over Pentax K-500

Less expensive
$500 vs $600 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
11.2 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-500 advantages over Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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)
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 410 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
71 mm vs 95 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
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
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
30 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 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.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

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
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-500 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Your purchases support this site

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

Review Excerpt

Read our Panasonic DMC-FZ100 Express Review

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

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-500

Panasonic DMC-FZ40

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$400
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K-500 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-500

Sony HX100V

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$312
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX100V

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-500

Panasonic FZ47

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$400
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Higher max flash sync

Compare Pentax K-500 vs Panasonic FZ47

Compared to Sony A57

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Sony A57

$500
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Longer exposure

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs 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

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Pentax K-5 IIs

$500
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ100 vs 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

Compare Other Cameras?