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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II 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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-3 II, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and K-3 II (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The ZS1 was revealed 7 years earlier than the K-3 II which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the ZS1 grades vs the K-3 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Pentax K-3 II

 ZS1 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic ZS1

 K-3 II ZS1 
RevealedApril 2015May 2009Newer by 72 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen sizing3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-3 II

 ZS1 K-3 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS1 has got exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-3 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the ZS1 against the K-3 II.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and K-3 II is 91 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading specs. The picture here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS1 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS1 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 II will offer you more detail because of its extra 14MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography information
25
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 II Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography features
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography features
24
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
has no phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography features
63
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
56
weather sealing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography factors
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
not so great battery life (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging advice
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Pentax K-3 II
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-05-14 2015-04-23
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 6.3 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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 (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 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, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229 grams (0.50 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One 2
Pricing at release $0 $829