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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS7
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Panasonic ZS8 versus Pentax MX-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS8 (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively close but the ZS8 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS8 was announced 23 months before the MX-1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the ZS8 matches up against the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax MX-1

 ZS8 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 MX-1 ZS8 
AnnouncedJuly 2013July 2011Newer by 23 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax MX-1

 ZS8 MX-1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS8 features 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) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS8 versus Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS8 versus the MX-1.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS8 and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS8 and MX-1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS8 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS8 will result in greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged ZS8 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
42
has manual focus
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
47
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery power (290 CIPA)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition in class (210g)
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
61
great battery power (290 shots)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (391g)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
44
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
30
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
33
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Pentax MX-1
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-07-19 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 340 shots 290 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $275 $400