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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
Pentax K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Launched June 2007
  • Previous Model is Pentax K100D
  • Newer Model is Pentax K200D
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic ZS15 versus Pentax K100D S, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and K100D S (6MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and K100D S (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The ZS15 was released 5 years after the K100D S which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the ZS15 grades against the K100D S with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax K100D S

 ZS15 K100D S 
LaunchedJune 2012June 2007Newer by 61 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kCrisper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Panasonic ZS15

 K100D S ZS15 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K100D S

 ZS15 K100D S 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS15 comes with outer dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Pentax K100D S has measurements of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS15 versus Pentax K100D S in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS15 compared to the K100D S.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and K100D S is 92 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS15 and K100D S.

As you can tell, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS15 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic ZS15 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent ZS15 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS15
Portrait photography with Pentax K100D S
21
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography factors
Pentax K100D S Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Sports photography camera
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography features
Pentax K100D S Travel photography features
61
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
45
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (6 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography advice
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (260 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview
low MP (6MP)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K100D S Vlogging highlights
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
9
no video
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K100D S
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax K100D Super
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-06-29 2007-06-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 gr (0.46 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $279 $520