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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax RS1500, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was introduced 17 months later than the RS1500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the SZ5 matches up vs the RS1500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Pentax RS1500

 SZ5 RS1500 
AnnouncedJuly 2012March 2011Fresher by 17 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic SZ5

 RS1500 SZ5 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax RS1500

 SZ5 RS1500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ5 features outside dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax RS1500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ5 compared to the RS1500.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ5 and RS1500 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking specifications. The photograph here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ5 and RS1500.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the identical resolution and you can expect similar quality of pictures but you should factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The fresher SZ5 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
35
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (136g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography info
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography features
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography features
70
lighter than others (136 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
67
weather sealing
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
40
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging details
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging details
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than others (136g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-07-18 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Screen LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 136 gr (0.30 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" 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 photos 260 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $195 $150