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Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic LS5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 97 x 62 x 27mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the LS5 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the LS5 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LS5 was introduced 3 years before the K-3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the LS5 grades against the K-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LS5 over the Pentax K-3

 LS5 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic LS5

 K-3 LS5 
LaunchedApril 2014July 2011More modern by 33 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LS5 and Pentax K-3

 LS5 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LS5 offers outer measurements of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the LS5 and the K-3.

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the LS5 and K-3 is 94 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the LS5 and K-3.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LS5 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will deliver more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged LS5 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LS5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
33
resolution is good (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
79
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LS5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LS5
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
32
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (560 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic LS5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery pack (560 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography details
36
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
low battery pack (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Vlogging information
Pentax K-3 Vlogging information
32
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (126g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LS5 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 Pentax K-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-07-21 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.60 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126 grams (0.28 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 62 x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 160 shots 560 shots
Battery type AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Launch price $294 $639