Clicky

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
17
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FP2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-3, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the FP2 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FP2 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The FP2 was launched 5 years before the K-3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the FP2 scores against the K-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP2 over the Pentax K-3

 FP2 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FP2

 K-3 FP2 
LaunchedApril 2014January 2010More modern by 51 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display dimension3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-3

 FP2 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FP2 has got external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 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).

Look at the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the FP2 against the K-3.

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FP2 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FP2 and K-3.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FP2 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged FP2 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography advice
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
you can focus manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FP2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than others (151g)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-3 Sports photography factors
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (560 CIPA)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FP2
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
56
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (151g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
weather sealing
decent MP (24MP)
built-in flash
bad battery power (560 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography highlights
32
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (560 shots)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Vlogging information
Pentax K-3 Vlogging information
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than others (151g)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 Pentax K-3
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2014-04-10
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3.2"
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151 gr (0.33 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" 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 - 560 photographs
Battery format - 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
Storage slots Single Dual
Launch pricing $80 $639