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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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-FS18
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax K-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The FH5 was launched 4 years earlier than the K-3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the FH5 scores versus the K-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Pentax K-3

 FH5 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FH5

 K-3 FH5 
LaunchedApril 2014January 2011Fresher by 39 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax K-3

 FH5 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 provides physical dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the FH5 and the K-3.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and K-3 is 96 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The visual underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FH5 and K-3.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FH5 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-3 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older FH5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
34
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
79
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Pentax K-3
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than average in class (121g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 Travel photography info
71
lighter than average in class (121g)
features focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment sealing
decent megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
bad battery (560 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography advice
38
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
bad battery (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
33
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Pentax K-3
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 gr (0.27 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
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 All around 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 260 pictures 560 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Dual
Launch cost $169 $639