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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Refreshed by Panasonic FZ200
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax K-3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the FZ100 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FZ100 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ100 was announced 4 years earlier than the K-3 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the FZ100 matches up vs the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Pentax K-3

 FZ100 K-3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FZ100

 K-3 FZ100 
AnnouncedApril 2014July 2010More modern by 45 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax K-3

 FZ100 K-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ100 has got outer measurements of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst 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).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax K-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FZ100 and the K-3.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FZ100 and K-3 is 67 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The picture here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ100 and K-3.

As you can tell, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FZ100 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will deliver more detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged FZ100 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography info
54
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
58
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography details
Pentax K-3 Sports photography details
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
59
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
environment proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (560 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography advice
51
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
not so great battery pack (560 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Vlogging features
Pentax K-3 Vlogging features
64
really wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FZ100 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ100 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Pentax K-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-07-21 2014-04-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Prime III
Sensor type CMOS 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 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 11.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 540 grams (1.19 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") 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
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Two
Price at release $500 $639