Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K20D

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic ZS100 versus Pentax K20D, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and K20D (15MP) and the ZS100 (1") and K20D (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The ZS100 was revealed 7 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the ZS100 grades against the K20D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 & Pentax K20D. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS100 Gallery & Pentax K20D Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS100 enjoys physical measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax K20D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS100 versus Pentax K20D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS100 versus the K20D.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS100 and K20D is 87 and 59 respectively.

Often, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS100 and K20D.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS100 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS100 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 5MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more modern ZS100 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.