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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Panasonic ZR1 versus Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZR1 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly close but the ZR1 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer different sensor measurements.

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The ZR1 was introduced 4 years before the MX-1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the ZR1 grades against the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Pentax MX-1

 ZR1 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic ZR1

 MX-1 ZR1 
IntroducedJuly 2013July 2009More modern by 47 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax MX-1

 ZR1 MX-1 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZR1 features external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZR1 versus Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the ZR1 against the MX-1.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZR1 and MX-1 is 94 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through specifications. The image below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR1 and MX-1.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor sizes. The ZR1 has the smaller sensor which should make obtaining bokeh more difficult. The more aged ZR1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography highlights
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
42
you can focus manually
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography details
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
great battery power (290 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
57
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
61
great battery power (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (391g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR1
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
55
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging info
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging info
28
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
33
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Pentax MX-1
Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-07-27 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine V -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.10 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 158 grams (0.35 lbs) 391 grams (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $280 $400