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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS45
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS60
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched December 2006
  • Newer Model is Pentax K100D S
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K100D (6MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS50 was introduced 8 years after the K100D which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZS50 scores vs the K100D in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K100D

 ZS50 K100D 
LaunchedJanuary 2015December 2006More modern by 99 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k210kSharper display (+830k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Panasonic ZS50

 K100D ZS50 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K100D

 ZS50 K100D 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS50 has got exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Pentax K100D has specifications of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS50 versus the K100D.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and K100D is 90 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS50 and K100D.

Plainly, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS50 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS50 will render extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger ZS50 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Portrait photography camera
42
you can focus manually
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
51
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography info
Pentax K100D Street photography info
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (243g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
58
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
heavier than others (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography advice
Pentax K100D Sports photography advice
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography details
Pentax K100D Travel photography details
66
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
42
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than others (660 grams)
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS50
Landscape photography with Pentax K100D
51
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
52
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (6MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging information
Pentax K100D Vlogging information
34
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K100D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax K100D
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax K100D
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2006-12-03
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m -
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 243 gr (0.54 lbs) 660 gr (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
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 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $350 $0