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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS50
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Succeeded the Pentax K10D
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Below, we are comparing the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K20D, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the K20D (15MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and K20D (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The ZS45 was released 6 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZS45 scores vs the K20D when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax K20D

 ZS45 K20D 
RevealedJanuary 2015June 2008Fresher by 80 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Panasonic ZS45

 K20D ZS45 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K20D

 ZS45 K20D 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with outside dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K20D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS45 compared to the K20D.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS45 and K20D is 91 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The visual below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and K20D.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS45 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern ZS45 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Portrait photography camera
37
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
manual focus
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography advice
Pentax K20D Street photography advice
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (249g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Sports photography camera
55
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery (350 shots)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS45
Travel photography with Pentax K20D
71
great battery (350 per charge)
lighter than others in class (249 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
64
weather proof
MP count decent (15MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Landscape photography camera
47
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
great battery (350 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
70
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K20D Vlogging highlights
34
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (249 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack
9
can't record video
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K20D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax K20D
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax K20D
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2008-06-25
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
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 16MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 21 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $300 $700