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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Launched January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS50
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the ZS45 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS45 was announced 3 years after the K-r which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZS45 scores vs the K-r when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax K-r

 ZS45 K-r 
IntroducedJanuary 2015March 2011More modern by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic ZS45

 K-r ZS45 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-r

 ZS45 K-r 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS45 has got external measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has dimensions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS45 against the K-r.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS45 and K-r is 91 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing specifications. The picture below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS45 and K-r.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS45 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic ZS45 will result in greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger ZS45 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
Portrait photography with Pentax K-r
37
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
Street photography with Pentax K-r
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (249 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-r Sports photography highlights
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
55
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS45
Travel photography with Pentax K-r
71
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (249 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
47
has built in flash
not so great battery (470 shots)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-r Landscape photography features
47
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (470 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging details
Pentax K-r Vlogging details
34
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (249g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax K-r
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax K-r
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2011-03-11
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 21 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 grams (0.55 pounds) 598 grams (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 755
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 470 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $1,100