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Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 193g - 108 x 58 x 24mm
  • Revealed November 2011
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The 3D1 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the K-500 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the 3D1 grades versus the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Pentax K-500

 3D1 K-500 
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic 3D1

 K-500 3D1 
AnnouncedNovember 2013November 2011More modern by 25 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic 3D1 and Pentax K-500

 3D1 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic 3D1 features outside measurements 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-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the 3D1 vs the K-500.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the 3D1 and K-500 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The picture below should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the 3D1 and K-500.

Plainly, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 3D1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-500 will give you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged 3D1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography factors
27
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Street photography details
Pentax K-500 Street photography details
61
image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
above average ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
30
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
good battery pack (710 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-500 Travel photography factors
59
has focus via touch
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
67
good battery pack (710 per charge)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
36
fairly wide (25mm)
big screen (3.5")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery power (200 shots)
no Timelapse function
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging information
Pentax K-500 Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic 3D1 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-07 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.9-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1300s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 710 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $670 $600