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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Launched July 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax RZ18, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZR1 was manufactured 3 years before the RZ18 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZR1 scores vs the RZ18 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Pentax RZ18

 ZR1 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic ZR1

 RZ18 ZR1 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2009Newer by 25 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax RZ18

 ZR1 RZ18 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZR1 has got external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the ZR1 against the RZ18.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZR1 and RZ18 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The image underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZR1 and RZ18.

All in all, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Pentax RZ18 to produce extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged ZR1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
21
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography features
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography features
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography details
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography details
57
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
71
lighter than competitors (178g)
environment proof
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-07-27 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine V -
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.10 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158g (0.35 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $280 $210