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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-50, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The ZS15 was revealed 17 months earlier than the K-50 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the ZS15 grades against the K-50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax K-50

 ZS15 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic ZS15

 K-50 ZS15 
LaunchedNovember 2013June 2012Fresher by 17 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-50

 ZS15 K-50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS15 has got outside measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS15 compared to the K-50.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS15 and K-50 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by checking out technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS15 and K-50.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS15 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-50 will show greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older ZS15 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography highlights
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
very good ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
heavier than competition in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
Pentax K-50 Sports photography details
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography details
Pentax K-50 Travel photography details
61
lighter than competition (208g)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery (260 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
56
environment sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (650g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography information
37
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
33
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have mic port
heavier than competition in class (650 grams)
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax K-50
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-06-29 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208g (0.46 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 410 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $279 $610