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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Released June 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS20
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-S2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The ZS15 was brought out 3 years earlier than the K-S2 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the ZS15 grades against the K-S2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax K-S2

 ZS15 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic ZS15

 K-S2 ZS15 
IntroducedFebruary 2015June 2012Newer by 31 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-S2

 ZS15 K-S2 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS15 provides outside measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS15 and the K-S2.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ZS15 and K-S2 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS15 and K-S2.

As you can see, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZS15 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-S2 will offer more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS15 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography advice
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
78
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Street photography highlights
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than competitors (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography advice
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
low battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography factors
61
lighter than average in class (208g)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
weather sealing
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
low battery power (410 shots)
heavier than competitors (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Landscape photography camera
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Vlogging camera
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (208g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
71
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic port
heavier than competitors (678g)
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax K-S2
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-06-29 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lbs) 678 grams (1.49 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 410 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $279 $581