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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Announced January 2013
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic XS1 versus Pentax RZ18, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the XS1 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The XS1 was introduced 17 months after the RZ18 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summary of how the XS1 scores versus the RZ18 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Pentax RZ18

 XS1 RZ18 
IntroducedJanuary 2013September 2011More modern by 17 months

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic XS1

 RZ18 XS1 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic XS1 and Pentax RZ18

 XS1 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic XS1 enjoys outside dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic XS1 versus Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the XS1 against the RZ18.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the XS1 and RZ18 is 97 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the XS1 and RZ18.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact MP therefore you can expect similar quality of photographs but you should factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The younger XS1 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography info
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography info
30
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic XS1
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than competition (178 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic XS1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
environment proofing
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic XS1
Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
49
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Vlogging features
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging features
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
30
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic XS1 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2011-09-12
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 103g (0.23 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $130 $210