Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax Q-S1

Below is a complete assessment of the Panasonic ZS35 versus Pentax Q-S1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS35 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the ZS35 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") possess different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The ZS35 was unveiled 7 months before the Q-S1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS35 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the ZS35 grades against the Q-S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 and Pentax Q-S1. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS35 Gallery and Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS35 comes with outer measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 32mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 305 grams (0.67 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS35 versus Pentax Q-S1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS35 versus the Q-S1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS35 and Q-S1 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS35 and Q-S1.

Clearly, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS35 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic ZS35 will render greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS35 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.