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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Launched November 2008
  • Renewed by Panasonic LX5
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic LX3 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The LX3 was launched 5 years prior to the K-5 IIs and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the LX3 matches up versus the K-5 IIs with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 LX3 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic LX3

 K-5 IIs LX3 
ReleasedJune 2013November 2008More recent by 55 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 LX3 K-5 IIs 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX3 offers external dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic LX3 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the LX3 vs the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX3 and K-5 IIs is 91 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The graphic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX3 and K-5 IIs.

All in all, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The LX3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 IIs will give more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older LX3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Portrait photography camera
40
has manual focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
heavier than competitors (265g)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Sports photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect AF
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography factors
60
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (265g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography factors
52
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
saves RAW files
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging details
30
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competitors (265g)
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-11-04 2013-06-04
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-60mm (2.5x) -
Max 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 size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum 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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 760 grams (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 39 82
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 14.1
DXO Low light score 94 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $449 $749