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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS45
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Pentax RS1500

 ZS40 RS1500 
IntroducedJanuary 2014March 2011More recent by 35 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic ZS40

 RS1500 ZS40 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax RS1500

 ZS40 RS1500 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

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

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS40
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
52
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
35
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
69
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
54
weather proof
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
54
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
37
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
weather proof
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography factors
56
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse function
40
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14MP)
weather proof
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging highlights
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging highlights
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no mic support
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Pentax Optio RS1500
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ60 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-01-06 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240 gr (0.53 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 300 photos 260 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $450 $150