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Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Announced January 2017
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic FZ80 and Pentax RS1500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the FZ80 (18MP) and RS1500 (14MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FZ80 was revealed 5 years later than the RS1500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FZ80 grades against the RS1500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Pentax RS1500

 FZ80 RS1500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2017March 2011More recent by 71 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic FZ80

 RS1500 FZ80 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ80 and Pentax RS1500

 FZ80 RS1500 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ80 has external measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") having a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ80 and Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the FZ80 versus the RS1500.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FZ80 and RS1500 is 63 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ80 and RS1500.

Clearly, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic FZ80 to provide extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher FZ80 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ80
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
58
manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
very small sensor (1/2.3")
35
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Street photography info
Pentax RS1500 Street photography info
54
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (616g)
54
environment proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ80
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
57
incredible zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
37
good MP (14MP)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Travel photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography factors
59
offers focus by touch
good MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (20mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
heavier than competition (616g)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
environment proofing
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography features
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography features
57
manual focus
quite wide (20mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
40
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good MP (14MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ80
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
28
quite wide (20mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition (616g)
25
relatively wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ80 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Pentax Optio RS1500
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ82 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2017-01-04 2011-03-16
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
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 20-1200mm (60.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 14.10 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 616 gr (1.36 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") 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 330 photos 260 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $399 $150