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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-S2
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the ZR1 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The ZR1 was revealed 6 years prior to the K-S1 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the ZR1 matches up versus the K-S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Pentax K-S1

 ZR1 K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic ZR1

 K-S1 ZR1 
LaunchedAugust 2014July 2009More recent by 61 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax K-S1

 ZR1 K-S1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZR1 offers outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S1 has measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the ZR1 and the K-S1.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ZR1 and K-S1 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ZR1 and K-S1.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZR1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-S1 will result in extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older ZR1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography advice
21
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average (558g)
above average high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography highlights
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
69
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.4 frames per second)
low battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography factors
57
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
lighter than average (558 grams)
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography features
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (410 shots)
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Vlogging camera
28
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (558 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Pentax K-S1
Also called as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-27 2014-08-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine V Prime MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.10 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 lb) 558g (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1061
Other
Battery life - 410 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $280 $339