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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2014
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Released March 2011
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-r, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the SZ8 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The SZ8 was released 2 years later than the K-r and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SZ8 matches up vs the K-r with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax K-r

 SZ8 K-r 
ReleasedJanuary 2014March 2011More recent by 35 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic SZ8

 K-r SZ8 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-r

 SZ8 K-r 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 features outer measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has proportions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-r in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ8 vs the K-r.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ8 and K-r is 94 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ8 and K-r.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ8 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic SZ8 will provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The newer SZ8 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-r Portrait photography factors
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
Pentax K-r Sports photography info
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography info
Pentax K-r Travel photography info
67
lighter than competition in class (159g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
47
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (470 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-r Landscape photography features
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery (200 shots)
no Time Lapse function
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery pack (470 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-r as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (159g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax K-r
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-01-06 2011-03-11
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 gr (0.35 lbs) 598 gr (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 755
Other
Battery life 200 photos 470 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $275 $1,100