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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax K-r, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The SZ1 was announced 11 months after the K-r and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ1 grades against the K-r with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K-r

 SZ1 K-r 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012March 2011Newer by 11 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic SZ1

 K-r SZ1 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-r

 SZ1 K-r 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 has got physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has sizing of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic SZ1 versus Pentax K-r in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ1 vs the K-r.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and K-r is 95 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over specs. The picture underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ1 and K-r.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic SZ1 will offer you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger SZ1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-r Portrait photography features
34
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (131 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
Sports photography with Pentax K-r
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Pentax K-r
70
lighter than others (131 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
47
built-in flash
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-r
43
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-r Vlogging details
32
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than others (131g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax K-r
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2011-03-11
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131g (0.29 lb) 598g (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 755
Other
Battery life 250 images 470 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $179 $1,100