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Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Leica Digilux 3 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Leica Digilux 3
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Launched September 2006
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Leica Digilux 3 and Pentax K-5 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Leica and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the Digilux 3 (7MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the Digilux 3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The Digilux 3 was manufactured 7 years prior to the K-5 II and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the Digilux 3 matches up vs the K-5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica Digilux 3 over the Pentax K-5 II

 Digilux 3 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Leica Digilux 3

 K-5 II Digilux 3 
IntroducedJune 2013September 2006More recent by 81 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k207kClearer display (+714k dot)

Common features in the Leica Digilux 3 and Pentax K-5 II

 Digilux 3 K-5 II 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Leica Digilux 3 has outer dimensions of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check the Leica Digilux 3 and Pentax K-5 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the Digilux 3 compared to the K-5 II.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the Digilux 3 and K-5 II is 65 and 60 respectively.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The visual below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the Digilux 3 and K-5 II.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The Digilux 3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 II will resolve more detail due to its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older Digilux 3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography info
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Street photography advice
58
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (606 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Sports photography camera
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica Digilux 3
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
50
lighter than competition (606 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
65
environment sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography advice
47
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica Digilux 3
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 II
9
no video recording
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Leica Digilux 3 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica Digilux 3 and Pentax K-5 II
 Leica Digilux 3Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Leica Pentax
Model Leica Digilux 3 Pentax K-5 II
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2006-09-14 2013-06-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 3136 x 2352 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 207 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed B+ secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606 gr (1.34 lbs) 760 gr (1.68 lbs)
Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life - 980 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,999 $830