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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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
  • Released April 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FS15 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The FS15 was revealed 6 years prior to the K-3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the FS15 grades versus the K-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Pentax K-3

 FS15 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FS15

 K-3 FS15 
ReleasedApril 2014January 2009Fresher by 63 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Pentax K-3

 FS15 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS15 provides physical dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Panasonic FS15 versus Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the FS15 versus the K-3.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS15 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing technical specs. The photograph below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and K-3.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS15 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will result in more detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The older FS15 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
20
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
79
has manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 Street photography advice
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 Sports photography advice
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
environment sealing
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (560 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery power (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Pentax K-3
Category Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-01-16 2014-04-10
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen 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 friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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 640x480 1920x1080
Video file 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 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 grams (0.30 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Dual
Launch cost $180 $639