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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax K10D front
Portability
59
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D 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
  • Announced January 2012
Pentax K10D
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 793g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Launched December 2006
  • Newer Model is Pentax K20D
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K10D, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and K10D (10MP) and the SZ1 (1/2.3") and K10D (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ1 was manufactured 5 years later than the K10D and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ1 scores versus the K10D in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax K10D

 SZ1 K10D 
LaunchedJanuary 2012December 2006More recent by 62 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k210kSharper display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K10D over the Panasonic SZ1

 K10D SZ1 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K10D

 SZ1 K10D 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ1 offers external measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax K10D has proportions of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K10D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ1 versus the K10D.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and K10D is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ1 and K10D.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ1 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic SZ1 will give more detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern SZ1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
Portrait photography with Pentax K10D
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
52
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
Street photography with Pentax K10D
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K10D as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K10D Travel photography highlights
70
lighter than competition in class (131g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
49
weather proofing
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K10D Landscape photography factors
43
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
resolution not great (10MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging details
Pentax K10D Vlogging details
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax K10D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax K10D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax K10D
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax K10D
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-01-09 2006-12-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Auto Red Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format MPEG-4 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 gr (0.29 lbs) 793 gr (1.75 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 522
Other
Battery life 250 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $179 $700