Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-50

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-50, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The 3D1 was introduced 3 years earlier than the K-50 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the 3D1 scores vs the K-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 & Pentax K-50. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic 3D1 Gallery & Pentax K-50 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic 3D1 features external dimensions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the 3D1 against the K-50.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 3D1 and K-50 is 93 and 63 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 3D1 and K-50.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 3D1 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-50 will deliver greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The older 3D1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.