Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S1

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic ZS15 versus Pentax K-S1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The ZS15 was revealed 3 years prior to the K-S1 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the ZS15 scores versus the K-S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 and Pentax K-S1. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS15 Gallery and Pentax K-S1 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS15 enjoys external dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has sizing of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS15 versus Pentax K-S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS15 versus the K-S1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS15 and K-S1 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS15 and K-S1.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS15 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-S1 will offer greater detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The older ZS15 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.