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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax RS1500, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FX48 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively close and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FX48 was manufactured 3 years prior to the RS1500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the FX48 scores against the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax RS1500

 FX48 RS1500 

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic FX48

 RS1500 FX48 
IntroducedMarch 2011January 2009More recent by 25 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax RS1500

 FX48 RS1500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FX48 enjoys physical dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the FX48 against the RS1500.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FX48 and RS1500 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FX48 and RS1500.

Plainly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Pentax RS1500 to provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The older FX48 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Street photography info
Pentax RS1500 Street photography info
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FX48
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
58
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography info
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
33
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse function
40
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging advice
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone jack
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax Optio RS1500
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-01-27 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $325 $150