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Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Refreshed by Panasonic S5 II
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic S5 versus Pentax K-3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S5 (24MP) and the K-3 (24MP) is very comparable but the S5 (Full frame) and K-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The S5 was released 6 years later than the K-3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the S5 matches up versus the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Pentax K-3

 S5 K-3 
ReleasedAugust 2020April 2014Fresher by 78 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1840k1037kClearer display (+803k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic S5

 K-3 S5 
Display dimension3.2"3.0"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic S5 and Pentax K-3

 S5 K-3 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic S5 provides outside dimensions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S5 versus Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the S5 vs the K-3.

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S5 and K-3 is 60 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The visual below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S5 and K-3.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The S5 has the larger sensor which should make achieving bokeh less difficult. The more modern S5 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
85
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S5 Street photography information
Pentax K-3 Street photography information
78
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
weather proof
good ISO range (51,200)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S5 Sports photography details
Pentax K-3 Sports photography details
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S5
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
79
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
selfie friendly display
60
weather proofing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery (560 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
86
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is good (3.0 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
not so great battery (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic S5
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
79
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic S5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S5 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Pentax K-3
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2020-08-14 2014-04-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 51200 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 225 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica L Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 31 151
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3.0" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,840 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/8000s -
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 714 grams (1.57 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 440 photographs 560 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 2
Cost at launch $1,999 $639