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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Successor is Pentax KF
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-70, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the SZ8 (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The SZ8 was brought out 3 years earlier than the K-70 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SZ8 grades versus the K-70 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax K-70

 SZ8 K-70 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Panasonic SZ8

 K-70 SZ8 
IntroducedJune 2016January 2014Fresher by 29 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-70

 SZ8 K-70 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ8 comes with physical measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-70 has specifications of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-70 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ8 against the K-70.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and K-70 is 94 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading through specifications. The photograph below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ8 and K-70.

To sum up, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ8 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-70 will resolve more detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older SZ8 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-70 Portrait photography advice
35
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
80
manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Street photography features
Pentax K-70 Street photography features
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
great ISO range (102,400)
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
Pentax K-70 Sports photography info
34
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography features
Pentax K-70 Travel photography features
67
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
64
environment sealing
resolution is good (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (688g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ8
Landscape photography with Pentax K-70
42
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (200 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (102,400)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
Pentax K-70 Vlogging info
32
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
71
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax K-70
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax K-70
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-01-06 2016-06-08
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine PRIME MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 102400
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 pounds) 688g (1.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" 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 200 pictures 410 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $275 $649