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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS50
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released December 2009
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax K-x

 ZS45 K-x 
ReleasedJanuary 2015December 2009Newer by 62 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic ZS45

 K-x ZS45 
Manual focus More precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-x

 ZS45 K-x 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

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

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-x Portrait photography factors
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography details
Pentax K-x Street photography details
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (249 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
Sports photography with Pentax K-x
55
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (350 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
61
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (1,900 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-x Travel photography advice
71
great battery pack (350 per charge)
lighter than others in class (249g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
good battery power (1,900 CIPA)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-x Landscape photography highlights
47
reasonably 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)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (1,900 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
Vlogging with Pentax K-x
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax K-x
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax K-x
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2009-12-23
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 21 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 16.00 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 gr (0.55 lbs) 580 gr (1.28 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 811
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 1900 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $300 $600