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Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic FZ2500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • 24-480mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 915g - 138 x 102 x 135mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ2000
  • Superseded the Panasonic FZ1000
Pentax K-3 II
(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
  • Launched April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
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Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-3 II, one is a Large Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ2500 (20MP) and the K-3 II (24MP) is fairly close but the FZ2500 (1") and K-3 II (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The FZ2500 was brought out 18 months after the K-3 II making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ2500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FZ2500 matches up vs the K-3 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ2500 over the Pentax K-3 II

 FZ2500 K-3 II 
LaunchedSeptember 2016April 2015More modern by 18 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic FZ2500

 K-3 II FZ2500 
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-3 II

 FZ2500 K-3 II 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ2500 comes with outside dimensions of 138mm x 102mm x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") having a weight of 915 grams (2.02 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-3 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the FZ2500 compared to the K-3 II.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ2500 and K-3 II is 53 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specifications. The picture here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ2500 and K-3 II.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FZ2500 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 II will result in greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent FZ2500 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ2500
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
has touch focus
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ2500
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
69
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography info
66
has touch focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
environment proofing
good MP (24MP)
bad battery life (720 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography information
65
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
bad battery life (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ2500 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging highlights
66
rather wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ2500 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Pentax K-3 II
Also called Lumix DMC-FZ2000 -
Type Large Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-09-19 2015-04-23
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 51200
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.5 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per sec 8.3 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.20 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2060 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 915 gr (2.02 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 138 x 102 x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 13.6
DXO Low light score 538 1106
Other
Battery life 350 images 720 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLC12 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $998 $829