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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Later Model is Pentax K100D S
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Panasonic ZS8 versus Pentax K100D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and K100D (6MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS8 was announced 4 years after the K100D which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZS8 matches up against the K100D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax K100D

 ZS8 K100D 
AnnouncedJuly 2011December 2006More modern by 57 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Panasonic ZS8

 K100D ZS8 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K100D

 ZS8 K100D 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS8 has got external measurements 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 K100D has sizing of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS8 versus Pentax K100D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the ZS8 against the K100D.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS8 and K100D is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The pic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS8 and K100D.

To sum up, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS8 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic ZS8 will offer greater detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern ZS8 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K100D Portrait photography advice
30
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
51
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
Pentax K100D Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
58
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
heavier than competition in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
Sports photography with Pentax K100D
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than average (210g)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
42
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (660 grams)
low resolution (6 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Landscape photography camera
44
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
52
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no liveview
low resolution (6 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
Pentax K100D Vlogging factors
30
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
9
no video
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K100D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax K100D
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Pentax K100D
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-07-19 2006-12-03
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210 gr (0.46 lb) 660 gr (1.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 340 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $275 $0