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Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50
Pentax K-x front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced December 2009
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Pentax. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the K-x (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the K-x (APS-C) and RZ18 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The K-x was manufactured 20 months before the RZ18 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the K-x grades versus the RZ18 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Pentax RZ18

 K-x RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Pentax K-x

 RZ18 K-x 
IntroducedSeptember 2011December 2009Fresher by 20 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K-x and Pentax RZ18

 K-x RZ18 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-x provides physical measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the K-x compared to the RZ18.

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the K-x and RZ18 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the K-x and RZ18.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The K-x featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax RZ18 will give you more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The older K-x is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-x as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
36
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-x
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competitors in class (178g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-x Sports photography details
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
61
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery (1,900 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-x as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
54
good battery (1,900 shots)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competitors in class (178 grams)
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-x Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (1,900 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-x as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
30
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (178g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
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Pentax K-x vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-x and Pentax RZ18
 Pentax K-xPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-x Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-12-23 2011-09-12
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 2848 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 96% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 16.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580g (1.28 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 811 not tested
Other
Battery life 1900 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $600 $210