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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Later Model is Pentax K-S2
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Panasonic ZS3 versus Pentax K-S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS3 was brought out 6 years before the K-S1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the ZS3 scores versus the K-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax K-S1

 ZS3 K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic ZS3

 K-S1 ZS3 
RevealedAugust 2014May 2009More recent by 64 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-S1

 ZS3 K-S1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS3 features external dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has specifications of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS3 versus Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the ZS3 vs the K-S1.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and K-S1 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The visual here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS3 and K-S1.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-S1 will produce greater detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older ZS3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography details
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (558 grams)
good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Sports photography camera
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.4 frames per second)
low battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography details
63
lighter than average in class (229g)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
lighter than competitors (558 grams)
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery life (410 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
35
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (410 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Vlogging camera
30
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (558 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax K-S1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax K-S1
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-05-14 2014-08-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
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 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 229 grams (0.50 pounds) 558 grams (1.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1061
Other
Battery life - 410 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $200 $339