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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and K-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was revealed 6 years prior to the K-3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FS42 matches up against the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax K-3

 FS42 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FS42

 K-3 FS42 
IntroducedApril 2014April 2009More recent by 60 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimension3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-3

 FS42 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 features physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 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).

Contrast the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax K-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the FS42 and the K-3.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through specifications. The photograph below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and K-3.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FS42 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will give more detail because of its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography features
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
79
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 Street photography info
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
max ISO too low (1,000)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 Sports photography info
16
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (560 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (560 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography highlights
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery life (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax K-3
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-04-17 2014-04-10
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" APS-C
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 1000 51200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 6.3 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life - 560 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Cost at release $580 $639