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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic SZ7 versus Pentax K-7, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ7 (14MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ7 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ7 was brought out 2 years later than the K-7 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ7 matches up versus the K-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax K-7

 SZ7 K-7 
LaunchedJanuary 2012October 2009Fresher by 28 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic SZ7

 K-7 SZ7 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-7

 SZ7 K-7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ7 provides outer measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax K-7 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ7 versus Pentax K-7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ7 compared to the K-7.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ7 and K-7 is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ7 and K-7.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ7 due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-7 will produce greater detail having its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher SZ7 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography features
33
MP count good (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
72
has manual focus
decent MP (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Street photography advice
Pentax K-7 Street photography advice
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (133 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography info
Pentax K-7 Sports photography info
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
69
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ7
Travel photography with Pentax K-7
70
lighter than others in class (133g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
64
environment proof
decent MP (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ7
Landscape photography with Pentax K-7
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging details
Pentax K-7 Vlogging details
35
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (133g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of mic jack
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax K-7
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax K-7
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-09 2009-10-02
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 6400 2000
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 133 grams (0.29 pounds) 750 grams (1.65 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life 220 shots 980 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $199 $599