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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Released January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS50
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS45 versus Pentax Q-S1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the ZS45 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS45 was announced 6 months later than the Q-S1 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS45 matches up vs the Q-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax Q-S1

 ZS45 Q-S1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Panasonic ZS45

 Q-S1 ZS45 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax Q-S1

 ZS45 Q-S1 
RevealedJanuary 2015August 2014Same generation
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with physical measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS45 versus Pentax Q-S1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS45 and the Q-S1.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS45 and Q-S1 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through specs. The visual underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS45 and Q-S1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS45 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will result in more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography highlights
37
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
46
you can focus manually
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Street photography camera
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (249g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (203g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera
55
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (350 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking focus
low fps (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery pack (250 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography details
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography details
71
good battery life (350 shots)
lighter than competitors (249g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
lighter than others (203 grams)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (250 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
good battery life (350 shots)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery pack (250 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging factors
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (249 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (203g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax Q-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax Q-S1
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-01-06 2014-08-04
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 21 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 grams (0.55 lb) 203 grams (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 250 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $300 $250