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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and RZ18 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS1 was announced 3 years prior to the RZ18 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the ZS1 matches up against the RZ18 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Pentax RZ18

 ZS1 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic ZS1

 RZ18 ZS1 
ReleasedSeptember 2011May 2009More recent by 28 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax RZ18

 ZS1 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS1 offers physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the ZS1 vs the RZ18.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and RZ18 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specifications. The visual here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS1 and RZ18.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS1 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax RZ18 will offer you extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older ZS1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography information
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography information
25
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
no RAW format
36
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography info
Pentax RZ18 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
no RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than average (178g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography details
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
no phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography information
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography information
63
lighter than competitors (229g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
lighter than average (178 grams)
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography details
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging info
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging info
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
30
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-05-14 2011-09-12
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 4cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 229 gr (0.50 lbs) 178 gr (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 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
Launch pricing $0 $210