Panasonic ZS200 vs Pentax Q-S1

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic ZS200 versus Pentax Q-S1, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the ZS200 (20MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the ZS200 (1") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS200 was unveiled 3 years later than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the ZS200 scores vs the Q-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 and Pentax Q-S1. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS200 Gallery and Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS200 comes with external measurements of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS200 versus Pentax Q-S1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS200 compared to the Q-S1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS200 and Q-S1 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS200 and Q-S1.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS200 having a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS200 will show more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent ZS200 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.