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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS60
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Superseded the Pentax K-1
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-1 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K-1 II (Full frame) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS50 was announced 4 years prior to the K-1 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the ZS50 scores versus the K-1 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K-1 II

 ZS50 K-1 II 
Display resolution1040k1037kClearer display (+3k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Panasonic ZS50

 K-1 II ZS50 
IntroducedFebruary 2018January 2015More modern by 38 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-1 II

 ZS50 K-1 II 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS50 provides external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 II has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-1 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the ZS50 compared to the K-1 II.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS50 and K-1 II is 90 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The picture here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS50 and K-1 II.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS50 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-1 II will provide extra detail with its extra 24MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged ZS50 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography advice
42
focusing manually
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
86
has manual focus
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-1 II Street photography highlights
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (243 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
above average high ISO (819,200)
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography features
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography features
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
77
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
bad battery pack (670 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography information
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography information
66
lighter than average (243g)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
53
weather proof
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
bad battery pack (670 per charge)
more heavy than average (1,010g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography features
51
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
82
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (819,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
bad battery pack (670 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging features
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging features
34
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (243 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-1 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2015-01-06 2018-02-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor 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 819200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF4
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/200s
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 data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 243 gr (0.54 lb) 1010 gr (2.23 lb)
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 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 138 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 670 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 Dual
Price at release $350 $1,737