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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced March 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax P70, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZR1 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZR1 was launched 5 months later than the P70 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ZR1 scores vs the P70 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Pentax P70

 ZR1 P70 

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Panasonic ZR1

 P70 ZR1 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax P70

 ZR1 P70 
AnnouncedJuly 2009March 2009Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZR1 features outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax P70 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax P70 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZR1 against the P70.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR1 and P70 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR1 and P70.

As you have seen, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical MP and you can expect comparable quality of photos though you should really take the launch date of the cameras into account.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
27
manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography details
Pentax P70 Street photography details
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography info
Pentax P70 Sports photography info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography info
Pentax P70 Travel photography info
57
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
56
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR1
Landscape photography with Pentax P70
32
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
32
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax P70 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax P70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Pentax Optio P70
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-07-27 2009-03-02
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine V -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.10 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158g (0.35 pounds) 155g (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $280 $200