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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax RS1500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and RS1500 (14MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was revealed 22 months earlier than the RS1500 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the ZS3 scores against the RS1500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax RS1500

 ZS3 RS1500 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic ZS3

 RS1500 ZS3 
AnnouncedMarch 2011May 2009More modern by 22 months
Manually focus More precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax RS1500

 ZS3 RS1500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS3 offers outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the ZS3 against the RS1500.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and RS1500 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and RS1500.

Clearly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax RS1500 to resolve extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography features
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography features
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
35
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography details
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography details
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
37
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography factors
63
lighter than competition (229g)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
67
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
35
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
40
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging information
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging information
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax Optio RS1500
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-05-14 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229 gr (0.50 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $200 $150