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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 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 MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Pentax MX-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS3 (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS3 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS3 was launched 5 years prior to the MX-1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the ZS3 grades versus the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax MX-1

 ZS3 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic ZS3

 MX-1 ZS3 
ReleasedJuly 2013May 2009More modern by 50 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax MX-1

 ZS3 MX-1 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 offers outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS3 versus the MX-1.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and MX-1 is 91 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS3 and MX-1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax MX-1 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography advice
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
42
has manual focus
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography details
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
great battery life (290 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
63
lighter than competition (229g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
61
great battery life (290 per charge)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others (391g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography info
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
35
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
33
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
missing mic port
heavier than others (391 grams)
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax MX-1
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-05-14 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 229g (0.50 lbs) 391g (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $200 $400