Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and RS1500 (14MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The ZS40 was manufactured 2 years later than the RS1500 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the ZS40 grades against the RS1500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 & Pentax Optio RS1500. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS40 Gallery & Pentax RS1500 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS40 has outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS40 against the RS1500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS40 and RS1500 is 90 and 93 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS40 and RS1500.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic ZS40 to show more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The newer ZS40 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.