Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S1

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-S1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the SZ7 (14MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the SZ7 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The SZ7 was unveiled 3 years prior to the K-S1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ7 matches up vs the K-S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 and Pentax K-S1. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ7 Gallery and Pentax K-S1 Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ7 features exterior dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has dimensions of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ7 versus the K-S1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ7 and K-S1 is 95 and 69 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over specifications. The image here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ7 and K-S1.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ7 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-S1 will offer greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ7 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.