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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11
Pentax K-500
(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
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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.

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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.

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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 
LaunchedNovember 2013January 2010More modern by 47 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-500

 FH3 K-500 
Display typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography features
Pentax K-500 Street photography features
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography information
Pentax K-500 Sports photography information
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
64
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
better than average battery life (710 shots)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
37
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
29
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Pentax 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