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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Launched July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Below, we are comparing the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS8 (14MP) and the K-x (12MP) is fairly similar but the ZS8 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS8 was launched 20 months after the K-x making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the ZS8 grades against the K-x with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax K-x

 ZS8 K-x 
RevealedJuly 2011December 2009Newer by 20 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic ZS8

 K-x ZS8 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-x

 ZS8 K-x 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS8 provides external dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Pentax K-x has dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS8 vs the K-x.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and K-x is 92 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading technical specs. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS8 and K-x.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZS8 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic ZS8 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher ZS8 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-x Portrait photography information
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
Pentax K-x Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
Sports photography with Pentax K-x
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery life (1,900 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
Travel photography with Pentax K-x
69
lighter than others (210 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
better than average battery life (1,900 shots)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-x Landscape photography factors
44
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (1,900 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-x Vlogging factors
30
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax K-x
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Pentax K-x
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-07-19 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Prime
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
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 -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 16.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 210 grams (0.46 pounds) 580 grams (1.28 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 811
Other
Battery life 340 images 1900 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $275 $600