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Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Pentax K-3
(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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the FZ70 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the FZ70 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ70 was brought out 8 months earlier than the K-3 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FZ70 matches up against the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Pentax K-3

 FZ70 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic FZ70

 K-3 FZ70 
AnnouncedApril 2014July 2013More modern by 8 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ70 and Pentax K-3

 FZ70 K-3 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ70 offers physical dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the FZ70 versus the K-3.

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FZ70 and K-3 is 63 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ70 and K-3.

As you can see, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FZ70 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will resolve more detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged FZ70 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
small sensor (1/2.3")
79
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ70
Street photography with Pentax K-3
49
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors in class (606 grams)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ70
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
55
amazing zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
good battery (400 CIPA)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
55
good battery (400 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (20mm)
long reach (1200mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (606g)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
environment proof
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (560 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
54
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (20mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
saves RAW formats
good battery (400 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 Vlogging details
26
reasonably wide (20mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (606g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ70 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 Pentax K-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-07-18 2014-04-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 20-1200mm (60.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Screen LCD Display TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 202 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.50 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606 grams (1.34 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 41 80
DXO Color Depth score 19.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 13.4
DXO Low light score 171 1216
Other
Battery life 400 shots 560 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Price at launch $300 $639