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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-7, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is fairly well matched but the ZS20 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The ZS20 was released 2 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the ZS20 matches up vs the K-7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Pentax K-7

 ZS20 K-7 
LaunchedApril 2012October 2009More recent by 32 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic ZS20

 K-7 ZS20 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-7

 ZS20 K-7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS20 has got outer dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Pentax K-7 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS20 versus the K-7.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS20 and K-7 is 92 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and K-7.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS20 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-7 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern ZS20 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography highlights
30
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Street photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography details
Pentax K-7 Sports photography details
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
69
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-7 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
supports touch focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
64
environment proof
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-7 Landscape photography features
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-7 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Pentax K-7
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Pentax K-7
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-04-26 2009-10-02
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 6400 2000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 13.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
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), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206g (0.45 lb) 750g (1.65 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 536
Other
Battery life 260 images 980 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $349 $599