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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced November 2008
  • New Model is Panasonic LX5
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
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-3
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and K-3 II (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LX3 was brought out 7 years earlier than the K-3 II which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief overview of how the LX3 matches up vs the K-3 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax K-3 II

 LX3 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic LX3

 K-3 II LX3 
RevealedApril 2015November 2008Newer by 78 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-3 II

 LX3 K-3 II 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX3 provides external dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the LX3 against the K-3 II.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the LX3 and K-3 II is 91 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the LX3 and K-3 II.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The LX3 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will give you greater detail having its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged LX3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
40
has manual focus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
79
focusing manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 II Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
heavier than competition in class (265g)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LX3
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LX3
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
60
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
weather proofing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
low battery pack (720 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
low battery pack (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging factors
30
pretty wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax K-3 II
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-11-04 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 44.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-60mm (2.5x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-2.8 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 4.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, 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)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max 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 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 39 80
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 13.6
DXO Low light score 94 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Launch price $449 $829