Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the ZS45 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The ZS45 was unveiled 5 years after the K-x which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ZS45 scores against the K-x with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 and Pentax K-x. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS45 Gallery and Pentax K-x Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS45 has outer measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Pentax K-x has proportions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS45 against the K-x.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS45 and K-x is 91 and 69 respectively.

Normally, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through specs. The pic below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS45 and K-x.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS45 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will give you more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer ZS45 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.