Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-01

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-01, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and K-01 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS1 was unveiled 4 years before the K-01 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZS1 scores versus the K-01 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Pentax K-01. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS1 Gallery and Pentax K-01 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS1 has physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has proportions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-01 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the ZS1 and the K-01.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and K-01 is 91 and 76 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading specs. The visual here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS1 and K-01.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-01 will deliver more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older ZS1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.