Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500
94 Imaging
36 Features
21 Overall
30


64 Imaging
57 Features
70 Overall
62
Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced January 2010
- Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Launched November 2013

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview
Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic FH3 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is fairly similar but the FH3 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

The FH3 was introduced 4 years before the K-500 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FH3 grades against the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 & Pentax K-500. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic FH3 Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Pentax K-500
FH3 | K-500 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic FH3
K-500 | FH3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | November 2013 | ![]() | January 2010 | More modern by 47 months |
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-500
FH3 | K-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch display |
Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FH3 comes with physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).
Take a look at the Panasonic FH3 versus Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the FH3 and the K-500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the FH3 and K-500 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The pic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH3 and K-500.
As you have seen, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FH3 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-500 will deliver extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged FH3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 | Pentax K-500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 | Pentax K-500 |
Also Known as | Lumix DMC-FS11 | - |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Introduced | 2010-01-06 | 2013-11-27 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | PRIME M |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.7 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 372.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Max resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4928 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 51600 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 11 |
Cross focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
Lens focal range | 28-140mm (5.0x) | - |
Maximum aperture | f/2.8-6.9 | - |
Macro focus range | 5cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 2.7" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 230 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.61x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/6000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 6.0fps | 6.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 6.80 m | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/180s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported 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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 165 gr (0.36 lbs) | 646 gr (1.42 lbs) |
Dimensions | 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 79 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.1 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1087 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 710 shots |
Battery style | - | AA |
Battery model | - | 4 x AA |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at release | $160 | $600 |