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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Panasonic ZS1 versus Pentax RS1500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and RS1500 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The ZS1 was unveiled 22 months prior to the RS1500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the ZS1 matches up vs the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Pentax RS1500

 ZS1 RS1500 

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic ZS1

 RS1500 ZS1 
AnnouncedMarch 2011May 2009More recent by 22 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax RS1500

 ZS1 RS1500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS1 versus Pentax RS1500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the ZS1 and the RS1500.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and RS1500 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over specifications. The graphic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS1 and RS1500.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS1 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax RS1500 will offer extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older ZS1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography advice
25
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
54
weather sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography information
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography information
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
37
good resolution (14MP)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography info
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography info
63
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
67
weather sealing
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography features
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography features
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
40
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
weather sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
25
fairly wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone port
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Pentax Optio RS1500
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-05-14 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $150