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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Comparison

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Panasonic ZS7

12 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Panasonic ZS7
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Pentax RZ18

16 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Pentax RZ18
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing ZS7 and RZ18, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Panasonic and Pentax. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Panasonic ZS7 has a 12.0 MP and Pentax RZ18 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Panasonic ZS7 was introduced to market in July 2011 and Pentax RZ18 was launched in September 2011. There is only 2 months difference between ZS7 and RZ18 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS7 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-07-19
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • Built-in GPS
  • 218g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ10

Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-09-12
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 178g. 97 x 61 x 33 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Panasonic ZS7 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 (Lumix DMC-TZ10)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs Pentax Optio RZ18

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 over Pentax Optio RZ18
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Number of Focus Points
11 vs 9 2 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps 1 fps faster
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Max Aperture - Wide
3.30 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
5.3m vs 2.8m 2.5m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.31µm2 vs 1.74µm2 32% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Pentax Optio RZ18 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Weight
178 g vs 218 g 40 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 300mm 150 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
18× vs 12× more flexible focal coverage

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 and Pentax Optio RZ18
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Focal Length - Tele
300mm vs 450mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 and Pentax Optio RZ18
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 460k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS7 has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″) and weighs 218 g (0.48 lb / 7.69 oz) (including batteries). Pentax RZ18 has external dimensions of 97 x 61 x 33 mm (3.82 x 2.4 x 1.3″) and weighs 178 g (0.39 lb / 6.28 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18.
Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax RZ18 is significantly lighter (40g ) than the Panasonic ZS7 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS7
RZ18
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS7
RZ18
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of RZ18, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to ZS7.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine HD II processor. On the other hand, Pentax RZ18 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the ZS7 and RZ18 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 Cameras


Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Panasonic ZS7 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Pentax RZ18, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Pentax RZ18 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 25mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.30, Panasonic ZS7 is faster than Pentax RZ18 at this focal length. On the tele end, Pentax RZ18 has 150mm longer telezoom reach than the Panasonic ZS7. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Panasonic ZS7 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS7
RZ18
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS7
RZ18
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS7
RZ18
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS7
RZ18
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS7 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Pentax RZ18 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS7 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax RZ18 for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Panasonic ZS7 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax RZ18 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
11 Focus Points
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
450 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Panasonic ZS7 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Pentax RZ18 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
218g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
178g
Environmental Sealings
18.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS7 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax RZ18 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Built-in GPS
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax RZ18: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax RZ18 scores compare:

Panasonic ZS7
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #229 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #820 out of 1225 in all Cameras
Pentax RZ18
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #279 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #899 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS7 has a higher Overall Score than the Pentax RZ18 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic ZS7
Panasonic ZS7
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Pentax RZ18
Pentax RZ18
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Pentax RZ18 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Pentax Optio RZ18
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Announced 2011-07-19 2011-09-12
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 27.72mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-300 mm (12×) 25-450 mm (18×)
Max Aperture F3.3-4.9 F3.5-5.9
Macro Focus Range 3cm 4cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.30 m 2.80 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1280 x 720
Video Formats AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 218g 178g
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm 97 x 61 x 33mm
Battery Life n/a n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
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