Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax E85

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax E85, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZS1 (10MP) and the E85 (12MP) is pretty similar but the ZS1 (1/2.5") and E85 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The ZS1 was released 4 months earlier than the E85 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the ZS1 scores vs the E85 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Pentax Optio E85. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS1 Gallery and Pentax E85 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS1 enjoys physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax E85 has measurements of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax E85 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS1 compared to the E85.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and E85 is 91 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specs. The picture here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS1 and E85.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax E85 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively.