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Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Panasonic FH2 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the FH2 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FH2 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The FH2 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the FH2 scores vs the K-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Pentax K-3

 FH2 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FH2

 K-3 FH2 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2011Fresher by 39 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH2 and Pentax K-3

 FH2 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FH2 provides outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FH2 versus Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FH2 against the K-3.

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FH2 and K-3 is 96 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking specifications. The visual underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH2 and K-3.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FH2 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will resolve more detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The older FH2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
33
good MP (14MP)
features face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than average in class (121g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
great battery life (270 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 Travel photography info
72
great battery life (270 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (121g)
supports focus via touch
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
weather proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery pack (560 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
41
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
great battery life (270 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
low battery pack (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
32
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than average in class (121g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH2 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 Pentax K-3
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS16 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format 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 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121g (0.27 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 270 pictures 560 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Pricing at release $149 $639