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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Later Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and K-1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS1 was launched 7 years prior to the K-1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the ZS1 matches up against the K-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Pentax K-1

 ZS1 K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic ZS1

 K-1 ZS1 
RevealedFebruary 2016May 2009Newer by 82 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-1

 ZS1 K-1 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS1 offers exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the ZS1 compared to the K-1.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and K-1 is 91 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specifications. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS1 and K-1.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZS1 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-1 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 26MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged ZS1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
25
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
85
has manual focus
MP count excellent (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS1
Street photography with Pentax K-1
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography information
Pentax K-1 Sports photography information
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count excellent (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.4 frames per second)
low battery life (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS1
Travel photography with Pentax K-1
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
53
weather sealing
MP count excellent (36 megapixels)
low battery life (760 shots)
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography highlights
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
81
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count excellent (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery life (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-1 Vlogging details
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (229g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Pentax K-1
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-05-14 2016-02-17
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Full frame
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 6.3 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 lb) 1010g (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.6
DXO Low light score not tested 3280
Other
Battery life - 760 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $0 $1,499