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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Revealed May 2012
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-01, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the K-01 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The SZ1 was announced 4 months prior to the K-01 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SZ1 scores against the K-01 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K-01

 SZ1 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Panasonic SZ1

 K-01 SZ1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-01

 SZ1 K-01 
RevealedJanuary 2012May 2012Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 has got outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has sizing of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") and a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-01 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SZ1 versus the K-01.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and K-01 is 95 and 76 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at specifications. The graphic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ1 and K-01.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The SZ1 uses the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography factors
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
Street photography with Pentax K-01
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
heavier than competition (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (540 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-01 Travel photography highlights
70
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
65
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than competition (561 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography advice
43
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (540 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging features
Pentax K-01 Vlogging features
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (561g)
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-01
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax K-01
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax K-01
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-09 2012-05-30
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 81
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 131g (0.29 pounds) 561g (1.24 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 250 photos 540 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $179 $899