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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly similar but the FH3 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The FH3 was released 11 months prior to the K-5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the FH3 matches up against the K-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Pentax K-5

 FH3 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic FH3

 K-5 FH3 
IntroducedDecember 2010January 2010Fresher by 11 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-5

 FH3 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH3 features physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the FH3 versus the K-5.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH3 and K-5 is 94 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FH3 and K-5.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FH3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-5 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older FH3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH3
Street photography with Pentax K-5
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 Sports photography features
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
65
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography highlights
37
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 Vlogging highlights
29
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Pentax K-5
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-01-06 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165g (0.36 pounds) 740g (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $160 $800