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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS50
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Later Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is very well matched but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS45 was launched 5 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the ZS45 grades versus the K-7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax K-7

 ZS45 K-7 
LaunchedJanuary 2015October 2009Fresher by 65 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic ZS45

 K-7 ZS45 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-7

 ZS45 K-7 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with outer dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the ZS45 versus the K-7.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS45 and K-7 is 91 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through specs. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and K-7.

All in all, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS45 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The younger ZS45 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography details
37
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography info
Pentax K-7 Street photography info
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (249g)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Sports photography highlights
55
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
great battery (350 shots)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography info
Pentax K-7 Travel photography info
71
great battery (350 per charge)
lighter than average (249g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
64
weather proof
decent MP (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
47
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
great battery (350 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-7 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (249 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax K-7
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax K-7
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2009-10-02
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 6400 2000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 21 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 13.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 gr (0.55 lbs) 750 gr (1.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 536
Other
Battery life 350 photos 980 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $300 $599