Panasonic F5 vs Pentax K-3

Lets look closer at the Panasonic F5 and Pentax K-3, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the F5 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the F5 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The F5 was revealed 15 months before the K-3 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the F5 matches up against the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 and Pentax K-3. The full galleries are available at Panasonic F5 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic F5 comes with exterior dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic F5 and Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the F5 and the K-3.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the F5 and K-3 is 96 and 59 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by checking out specifications. The picture below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the F5 and K-3.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The F5 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will produce more detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged F5 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.