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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Successor is Pentax KF
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-70, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the ZS20 (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The ZS20 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the K-70 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the ZS20 grades versus the K-70 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Pentax K-70

 ZS20 K-70 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Panasonic ZS20

 K-70 ZS20 
IntroducedJune 2016April 2012Fresher by 50 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-70

 ZS20 K-70 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS20 offers physical dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-70 has specifications of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-70 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS20 against the K-70.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and K-70 is 92 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by seeing specifications. The visual below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and K-70.

To sum up, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS20 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-70 will produce greater detail having an extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS20 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
Portrait photography with Pentax K-70
30
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
Street photography with Pentax K-70
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competitors (206g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
71
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
very good ISO range (102,400)
heavier than others (688g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography information
Pentax K-70 Sports photography information
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-70 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
64
weather proofing
MP count good (24MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery (410 CIPA)
heavier than others (688g)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-70 Landscape photography factors
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (102,400)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-70 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
71
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic port
heavier than others (688 grams)
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Pentax K-70
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Pentax K-70
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-04-26 2016-06-08
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max 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 BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206 gr (0.45 lbs) 688 gr (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" 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 images 410 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Storage slots One One
Retail price $349 $649