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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed March 2009
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax P70, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZS15 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is very close and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS15 was launched 3 years after the P70 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the ZS15 matches up vs the P70 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax P70

 ZS15 P70 
RevealedJune 2012March 2009More modern by 41 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Panasonic ZS15

 P70 ZS15 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax P70

 ZS15 P70 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS15 provides outside dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Pentax P70 has sizing of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax P70 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS15 vs the P70.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and P70 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by researching specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS15 and P70.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same resolution and you can expect comparable quality of photos though you should always consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern ZS15 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS15
Portrait photography with Pentax P70
21
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than average in class (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography features
Pentax P70 Sports photography features
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than average in class (208g)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
56
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (155g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax P70 Landscape photography highlights
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery power (260 shots)
no Timelapse function
32
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax P70 as a Vlogging camera
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (208g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
25
fairly wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than average in class (155g)
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax P70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax Optio P70
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-06-29 2009-03-02
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lbs) 155 grams (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $279 $200