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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS8
(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
Pentax K-S1
(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
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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.

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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.

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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 
IntroducedAugust 2014July 2011Fresher by 37 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-S1

 ZS8 K-S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

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

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-S1
30
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
77
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
great high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Sports photography camera
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
low battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than competition (210g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
good MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery power (410 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography information
44
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
low battery power (410 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging features
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging features
30
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax 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