Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1
92 Imaging
37 Features
39 Overall
37


69 Imaging
63 Features
70 Overall
65
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
- Released July 2011
- Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
- Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
- Introduced August 2014
- Replacement is Pentax K-S2

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview
Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS8 versus Pentax K-S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

The ZS8 was unveiled 4 years prior to the K-S1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the ZS8 grades vs the K-S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 & Pentax K-S1. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS8 Gallery & Pentax K-S1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax K-S1
ZS8 | K-S1 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic ZS8
K-S1 | ZS8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | August 2014 | ![]() | July 2011 | Fresher by 37 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | More accurate focus | ||
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-S1
ZS8 | K-S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly display |
Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS8 provides physical dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has sizing of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).
Examine the Panasonic ZS8 versus Pentax K-S1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the ZS8 and the K-S1.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS8 and K-S1 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by looking through specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS8 and K-S1.
All in all, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS8 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-S1 will render more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older ZS8 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 | Pentax K-S1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 | Pentax K-S1 |
Also Known as | Lumix DMC-TZ18 | - |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
Released | 2011-07-19 | 2014-08-27 |
Physical type | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Venus Engine FHD | Prime MII |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 20 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Highest resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 5472 x 3648 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 51200 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
Lens focal range | 24-384mm (16.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
Macro focus range | 3cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.64x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/6000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 2.0 frames per second | 5.4 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 5.00 m | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4 | H.264 |
Microphone 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 | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 210 grams (0.46 pounds) | 558 grams (1.23 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") | 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 78 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.5 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.0 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1061 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 340 shots | 410 shots |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | D-LI109 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail cost | $275 | $339 |