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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 Overview

The following is a extended analysis of the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax H90, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and H90 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was revealed 24 months after the H90 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ1 matches up versus the H90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax H90

 SZ1 H90 
LaunchedJanuary 2012January 2010Newer by 24 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Panasonic SZ1

 H90 SZ1 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax H90

 SZ1 H90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 has got outside dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax H90 has sizing of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax H90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the SZ1 versus the H90.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and H90 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and H90.

As you can see, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Panasonic SZ1 to deliver more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern SZ1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax H90 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
you can focus manually
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax H90 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (131g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
Sports photography with Pentax H90
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography advice
Pentax H90 Travel photography advice
70
lighter than average (131g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
57
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax H90 Landscape photography advice
43
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
36
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging features
Pentax H90 Vlogging features
32
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than average (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
28
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax H90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax Optio H90
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-09 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 4cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 gr (0.29 lb) 153 gr (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $179 $150