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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Older Model is Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-S2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ7 (14MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the SZ7 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ7 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-S2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ7 scores against the K-S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax K-S2

 SZ7 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic SZ7

 K-S2 SZ7 
IntroducedFebruary 2015January 2012Fresher by 37 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-S2

 SZ7 K-S2 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ7 has got outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ7 and the K-S2.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ7 and K-S2 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by reading specifications. The graphic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ7 and K-S2.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ7 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will offer more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ7 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Portrait photography camera
34
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
78
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Street photography details
Pentax K-S2 Street photography details
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (133g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than competitors (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than others (133 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
65
environment proof
resolution is good (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ7
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
42
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging highlights
35
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (133 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
71
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (678 grams)
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax K-S2
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-09 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 133g (0.29 lbs) 678g (1.49 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
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 220 pictures 410 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $199 $581