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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Updated by Panasonic FZ200
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FZ100 (14MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ100 was unveiled 13 months earlier than the RZ18 making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FZ100 matches up versus the RZ18 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Pentax RZ18

 FZ100 RZ18 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic FZ100

 RZ18 FZ100 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011July 2010Newer by 13 months

Common features in the Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax RZ18

 FZ100 RZ18 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ100 has got outer measurements of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the FZ100 vs the RZ18.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ100 and RZ18 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ100 and RZ18.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Pentax RZ18 to show more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged FZ100 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Portrait photography details
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography details
54
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
36
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Street photography information
Pentax RZ18 Street photography information
58
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than others in class (178g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography factors
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Travel photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography highlights
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than others in class (178g)
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography features
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography features
51
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
49
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Vlogging info
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging info
64
fairly wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
30
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (178g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-21 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 540g (1.19 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $500 $210