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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 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
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-S2
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The ZR3 was announced 5 years before the K-S1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZR3 grades vs the K-S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax K-S1

 ZR3 K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic ZR3

 K-S1 ZR3 
ReleasedAugust 2014January 2010Fresher by 55 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-S1

 ZR3 K-S1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZR3 comes with exterior measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 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") and a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the ZR3 and the K-S1.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and K-S1 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The visual here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and K-S1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZR3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-S1 will resolve extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older ZR3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
77
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
great high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography information
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography information
36
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.4 fps)
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
Travel photography with Pentax K-S1
64
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography information
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging factors
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax K-S1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-26 2014-08-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II 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 surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite H.264
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 gr (0.35 lb) 558 gr (1.23 lb)
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 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $280 $339