Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1
90 Imaging
36 Features
57 Overall
44
55 Imaging
75 Features
82 Overall
77
Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
- 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
- Announced January 2015
- Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
- Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
- Replacement is Panasonic ZS60
(Full Review)
- 36MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 204800
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
- Introduced February 2016
- Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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Its time to look closer at the Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe ZS50 was brought out 13 months before the K-1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the ZS50 scores against the K-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Photography Glossary Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 & Pentax K-1. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZS50 Gallery & Pentax K-1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K-1
| ZS50 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen resolution | 1040k | 1037k | Crisper screen (+3k dot) |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic ZS50
| K-1 | ZS50 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | February 2016 | January 2015 | Fresher by 13 months | |
| Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen | |
| Screen dimensions | 3.2" | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-1
| ZS50 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | Very exact focusing | |||
| Selfie screen | Absent selfie screen | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Absent Touch friendly screen |
Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS50 has got exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS50 and the K-1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS50 and K-1 is 90 and 55 respectively.
Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The photograph here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS50 and K-1.
All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS50 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will deliver greater detail having its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older ZS50 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.
Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 | Pentax K-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Panasonic | Pentax |
| Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 | Pentax K-1 |
| Other name | Lumix DMC-TZ70 | - |
| Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
| Announced | 2015-01-06 | 2016-02-17 |
| Body design | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
| Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 861.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 36 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
| Peak resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 7360 x 4912 |
| Highest native ISO | 6400 | 204800 |
| Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW support | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| AF single | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Number of focus points | 23 | 33 |
| Cross focus points | - | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
| Lens focal range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | - |
| Largest aperture | f/3.3-6.4 | - |
| Macro focus distance | 3cm | - |
| Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 1 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of display | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
| Display size | 3" | 3.2" |
| Resolution of display | 1,040 thousand dot | 1,037 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch display | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 1,166 thousand dot | - |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.46x | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
| Max shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/8000 secs |
| Continuous shutter speed | 10.0fps | 4.4fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash range | 6.40 m | no built-in flash |
| Flash options | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off | Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | - | 1/200 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) |
| Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Mic input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Built-in |
| Physical | ||
| Environment seal | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 243 gr (0.54 pounds) | 1010 gr (2.23 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") | 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall score | 44 | 96 |
| DXO Color Depth score | 20.0 | 25.4 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 11.2 | 14.6 |
| DXO Low light score | 138 | 3280 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 300 images | 760 images |
| Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | D-LI90 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) |
| Storage slots | Single | 2 |
| Price at release | $350 | $1,499 |