Panasonic 3D1 vs Pentax K20D

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic 3D1 and Pentax K20D, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the 3D1 (12MP) and the K20D (15MP) is very well matched but the 3D1 (1/2.3") and K20D (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The 3D1 was manufactured 3 years later than the K20D and that is quite a significant gap 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 K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the 3D1 grades against the K20D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 and Pentax K20D. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic 3D1 Gallery and Pentax K20D Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic 3D1 has outside 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) while the Pentax K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Panasonic 3D1 and Pentax K20D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the 3D1 compared to the K20D.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 3D1 and K20D is 93 and 59 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by checking specifications. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 3D1 and K20D.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 3D1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K20D will give more detail due to its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger 3D1 provides an advantage in sensor tech.