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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Launched January 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
  • Revealed March 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic SZ7 versus Pentax RS1500, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ7 (14MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras have the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ7 was announced 10 months after the RS1500 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ7 scores vs the RS1500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax RS1500

 SZ7 RS1500 
RevealedJanuary 2012March 2011Newer by 10 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic SZ7

 RS1500 SZ7 
Manual focus More exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax RS1500

 SZ7 RS1500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ7 has got outside dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ7 versus Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ7 vs the RS1500.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ7 and RS1500 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The pic here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ7 and RS1500.

As you can see, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same MP and you should expect similar quality of images but you really should consider the release date of the products into consideration. The fresher SZ7 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography features
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography features
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
35
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
54
environment proof
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography advice
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
37
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
67
environment proof
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
40
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good MP (14 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging advice
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice
35
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
25
relatively wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-09 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 4cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 gr (0.29 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots 260 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $199 $150