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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax MX-1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZS5 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly close but the ZS5 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS5 was introduced 4 years prior to the MX-1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the ZS5 grades vs the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax MX-1

 ZS5 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic ZS5

 MX-1 ZS5 
RevealedJuly 2013June 2010More recent by 37 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax MX-1

 ZS5 MX-1 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS5 comes with exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax MX-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS5 against the MX-1.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The photograph underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS5 and MX-1.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The ZS5 has the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field harder. The older ZS5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
27
includes face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
42
focusing manually
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (290 per charge)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
63
lighter than competition (214 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
61
good battery life (290 shots)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than average (391 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography information
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography information
33
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
55
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging information
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging information
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (214 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
heavier than average (391 grams)
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax MX-1
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-16 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 gr (0.47 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $400