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Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
73
Overall
59
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic LX100
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 393g - 115 x 66 x 55mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX100 II
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
  • Introduced September 2011
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Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the LX100 (13MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is fairly similar but the LX100 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The LX100 was introduced 3 years after the RZ18 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the LX100 scores against the RZ18 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 over the Pentax RZ18

 LX100 RZ18 
IntroducedSeptember 2014September 2011More modern by 37 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic LX100

 RZ18 LX100 

Common features in the Panasonic LX100 and Pentax RZ18

 LX100 RZ18 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic LX100 enjoys exterior measurements of 115mm x 66mm x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") and a weight of 393 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the LX100 and the RZ18.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the LX100 and RZ18 is 83 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the LX100 and RZ18.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LX100 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RZ18 will deliver extra detail using its extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The younger LX100 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Portrait photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography advice
70
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (13MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
36
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LX100
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
76
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competitors in class (178 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
67
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (13MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Travel photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography factors
75
supports focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (13 megapixels)
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competitors in class (178g)
weather sealing
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography factors
73
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.7)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (13 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
49
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
weather sealing
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX100 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.7)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
30
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (178g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX100 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-09-15 2011-09-12
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4112 x 3088 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-75mm (3.1x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.7-2.8 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 4cm
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,764k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 393g (0.87 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 66 x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 553 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $800 $210