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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax Q-S1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ7 (14MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the SZ7 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") feature different sensor measurements.

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The SZ7 was introduced 3 years before the Q-S1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SZ7 scores against the Q-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax Q-S1

 SZ7 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Panasonic SZ7

 Q-S1 SZ7 
RevealedAugust 2014January 2012More modern by 31 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax Q-S1

 SZ7 Q-S1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ7 has got outer dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ7 and the Q-S1.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ7 and Q-S1 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ7 and Q-S1.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ7 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic SZ7 will show more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SZ7 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography factors
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
46
focusing manually
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography highlights
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (203 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ7
Sports photography with Pentax Q-S1
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
not so great battery life (250 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
lighter than others (203g)
flash built-in
not so great battery life (250 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography information
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
not so great battery life (250 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging highlights
35
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone port
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (203 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax Q-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax Q-S1
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-01-09 2014-08-04
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Total lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 133 gr (0.29 lbs) 203 gr (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 250 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $199 $250