Clicky

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS60
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Successor is Pentax KF
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

The ZS50 was announced 17 months before the K-70 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS50 scores against the K-70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K-70

 ZS50 K-70 
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Panasonic ZS50

 K-70 ZS50 
IntroducedJune 2016January 2015More recent by 17 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-70

 ZS50 K-70 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS50 has physical dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Pentax K-70 has dimensions of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS50 vs the K-70.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and K-70 is 90 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS50 and K-70.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS50 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-70 will provide extra detail with its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS50 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-70 Portrait photography highlights
42
focusing manually
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
80
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS50
Street photography with Pentax K-70
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (243g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (102,400)
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
Sports photography with Pentax K-70
43
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery life (410 shots)
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography features
Pentax K-70 Travel photography features
66
lighter than others in class (243g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
64
environment proofing
resolution is good (24MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Landscape photography camera
51
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (102,400)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery life (410 shots)
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-70 Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (243 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax K-70
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax K-70
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 2016-06-08
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 102400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
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 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 243 gr (0.54 lbs) 688 gr (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
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 shots 410 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $649