Panasonic S1 vs Pentax W80

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic S1 vs Pentax W80, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (24MP) and W80 (12MP) and the S1 (Full frame) and W80 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The S1 was revealed 9 years after the W80 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the S1 grades vs the W80 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 and Pentax Optio W80. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic S1 Gallery and Pentax W80 Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S1 offers physical measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) and the Pentax W80 has dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S1 vs Pentax W80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the S1 compared to the W80.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and W80 is 54 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching technical specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S1 and W80.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S1 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic S1 will render extra detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern S1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.