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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Released July 2015
  • Old Model is Panasonic FZ200
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FZ300 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is pretty similar and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FZ300 was launched 4 years later than the S1 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the FZ300 matches up against the S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Pentax S1

 FZ300 S1 
LaunchedJuly 2015March 2011More recent by 54 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Panasonic FZ300

 S1 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax S1

 FZ300 S1 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ300 features exterior measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") along with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) while the Pentax S1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the FZ300 against the S1.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ300 and S1 is 59 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ300 and S1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Pentax S1 to offer extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher FZ300 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography factors
Pentax S1 Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
35
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ300
Street photography with Pentax S1
59
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
weather proof
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors (691 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ300
Sports photography with Pentax S1
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography advice
Pentax S1 Travel photography advice
59
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
weather proof
has touch to focus
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
heavier than competitors (691 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Landscape photography camera
52
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
42
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging details
Pentax S1 Vlogging details
62
decently wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competitors (691g)
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Pentax S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Pentax Optio S1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-07-16 2011-03-02
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/16000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691g (1.52 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 380 pictures 260 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $598 $174