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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II 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
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic FH5 versus Pentax K-3 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The FH5 was brought out 5 years earlier than the K-3 II which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FH5 scores vs the K-3 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Pentax K-3 II

 FH5 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic FH5

 K-3 II FH5 
LaunchedApril 2015January 2011More modern by 52 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Pentax K-3 II

 FH5 K-3 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FH5 features physical measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH5 versus Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the FH5 versus the K-3 II.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and K-3 II is 96 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FH5 and K-3 II.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FH5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will resolve greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged FH5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography details
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
79
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Street photography factors
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than average (121g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography information
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than average (121 grams)
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
56
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
low battery pack (720 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Landscape photography camera
38
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
low battery pack (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
33
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than average (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FH5 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Pentax K-3 II
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-05 2015-04-23
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
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) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment 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 Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 260 images 720 images
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 feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One Dual
Cost at release $169 $829