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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
87
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS200
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax K-x, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and K-x (12MP) and the ZS100 (1") and K-x (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS100 was announced 6 years later than the K-x and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the ZS100 matches up vs the K-x in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Pentax K-x

 ZS100 K-x 
RevealedJanuary 2016December 2009More recent by 74 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic ZS100

 K-x ZS100 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax K-x

 ZS100 K-x 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS100 has external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-x has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax K-x in the 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 are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS100 vs the K-x.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS100 and K-x is 87 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The visual below might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS100 and K-x.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS100 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS100 will offer greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The newer ZS100 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-x Portrait photography information
65
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Street photography factors
Pentax K-x Street photography factors
78
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
lighter than others in class (312g)
screen does not articulate
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-x Sports photography advice
68
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
61
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery life (1,900 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-x Travel photography advice
75
lighter than others in class (312g)
boasts touch focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
great battery life (1,900 shots)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Landscape photography camera
68
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,900 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-x Vlogging advice
36
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others in class (312 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 Pentax K-x
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100 -
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2016-01-05 2009-12-23
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Prime
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 9.9 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m (at Auto ISO) 16.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 312g (0.69 lbs) 580g (1.28 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 72
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 12.5
DXO Low light score 559 811
Other
Battery life 300 shots 1900 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $700 $600