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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
77
Features
82
Overall
79

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Pentax K-1
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax K-1 II, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K-1 II (Full frame) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SZ1 was announced 7 years prior to the K-1 II which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ1 matches up vs the K-1 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K-1 II

 SZ1 K-1 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Panasonic SZ1

 K-1 II SZ1 
IntroducedFebruary 2018January 2012More modern by 74 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-1 II

 SZ1 K-1 II 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 offers physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 II has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax K-1 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ1 against the K-1 II.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and K-1 II is 95 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The image below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ1 and K-1 II.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ1 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-1 II will offer extra detail with its extra 20 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography info
34
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
86
has manual focus
resolution is fantastic (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography features
Pentax K-1 II Street photography features
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
70
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
good high ISO (819,200)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
Sports photography with Pentax K-1 II
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery power (670 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competition (131 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
53
environment proofing
resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
bad battery power (670 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography factors
43
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
82
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (670 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging factors
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (131 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
32
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-1 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2018-02-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 6400 819200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF4
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 grams (0.29 pounds) 1010 grams (2.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
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 250 photos 670 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 1 2
Retail cost $179 $1,737