Panasonic ZS200 vs Pentax MX-1

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic ZS200 versus Pentax MX-1, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the ZS200 (20MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the ZS200 (1") and MX-1 (1/1.7") have different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The ZS200 was revealed 4 years after the MX-1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the ZS200 scores vs the MX-1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 and Pentax MX-1. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS200 Gallery and Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS200 has physical dimensions of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") along with a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS200 versus Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS200 versus the MX-1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS200 and MX-1 is 86 and 84 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS200 and MX-1.

Clearly, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS200 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS200 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more modern ZS200 should have an edge in sensor technology.