Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung GX-1L

Let's look closer at the Pentax RZ18 and Samsung GX-1L, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and GX-1L (6MP) and the RZ18 (1/2.3") and GX-1L (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The RZ18 was announced 5 years later than the GX-1L and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Samsung GX-1L being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the RZ18 grades vs the GX-1L for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio RZ18 & Samsung GX-1L. The whole galleries are available at Pentax RZ18 Gallery & Samsung GX-1L Gallery.

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax RZ18 comes with exterior measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Samsung GX-1L has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 570 grams (1.26 lbs).

Look at the Pentax RZ18 and Samsung GX-1L in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the RZ18 against the GX-1L.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the RZ18 and GX-1L is 92 and 69 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the RZ18 and GX-1L.

Clearly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The RZ18 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax RZ18 will produce more detail with its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger RZ18 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.