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Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-3, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the FP3 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FP3 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The FP3 was released 5 years earlier than the K-3 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the FP3 matches up vs the K-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Pentax K-3

 FP3 K-3 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FP3

 K-3 FP3 
RevealedApril 2014January 2010Newer by 51 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-3

 FP3 K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP3 offers outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the FP3 vs the K-3.

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the FP3 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through specifications. The pic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FP3 and K-3.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FP3 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-3 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged FP3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FP3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others (155 grams)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
34
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
low battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
60
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (155g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
environment sealing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery power (560 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
37
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
low battery power (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
27
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than others (155 grams)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Pentax K-3
Category Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-06 2014-04-10
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display 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 rate 5.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 gr (0.34 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Physical 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 score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life - 560 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - 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 Single Two
Price at launch $182 $639