Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax W90

On this page, we will be evaluating the Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax W90, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the XS1 (16MP) and W90 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The XS1 was unveiled 2 years after the W90 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the XS1 grades versus the W90 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 and Pentax Optio W90. The full galleries are available at Panasonic XS1 Gallery and Pentax W90 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic XS1 features outside measurements 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 W90 has specifications of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax W90 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the XS1 versus the W90.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XS1 and W90 is 97 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The picture below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the XS1 and W90.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic XS1 to render more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more recent XS1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.