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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX550
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
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-3 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the FX580 (12MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the FX580 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FX580 was unveiled 7 years before the K-3 II which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the FX580 grades vs the K-3 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Pentax K-3 II

 FX580 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic FX580

 K-3 II FX580 
LaunchedApril 2015January 2009More modern by 75 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-3 II

 FX580 K-3 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX580 has exterior measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the FX580 vs the K-3 II.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FX580 and K-3 II is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The picture below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FX580 and K-3 II.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FX580 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will produce greater detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged FX580 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography advice
26
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX580 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FX580
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
27
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX580 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
weather proof
good resolution (24MP)
not so great battery (720 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FX580
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
36
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Vlogging information
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging information
30
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 Pentax K-3 II
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-01-27 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync 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)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 photographs
Battery form - 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Two
Price at launch $499 $829