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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Old Model is Pentax Q
  • Later Model is Pentax Q7
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax Q10, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and Q10 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was manufactured 17 months after the Q10 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SZ8 scores versus the Q10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax Q10

 SZ8 Q10 
IntroducedJanuary 2014September 2012More modern by 17 months

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Panasonic SZ8

 Q10 SZ8 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax Q10

 SZ8 Q10 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 offers outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q10 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax Q10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ8 against the Q10.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ8 and Q10 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The image underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and Q10.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic SZ8 to resolve greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern SZ8 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography information
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography information
35
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
48
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Street photography advice
Pentax Q10 Street photography advice
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (159 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (200 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
Pentax Q10 Sports photography info
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
36
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography information
Pentax Q10 Travel photography information
67
lighter than others (159g)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
60
lighter than others in class (200g)
has built in flash
not so great battery life (270 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography factors
Pentax Q10 Landscape photography factors
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
54
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (270 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
Pentax Q10 Vlogging info
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than others (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (200 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax Q10
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax Q10
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax Q10
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-01-06 2012-09-10
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 7.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 183
Other
Battery life 200 images 270 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $275 $350