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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed November 2008
  • Updated by Panasonic LX5
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Panasonic LX3 versus Pentax K-500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and K-500 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The LX3 was launched 6 years before the K-500 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the LX3 matches up vs the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax K-500

 LX3 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic LX3

 K-500 LX3 
IntroducedNovember 2013November 2008Newer by 61 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-500

 LX3 K-500 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LX3 comes with 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) whilst the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LX3 versus Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the LX3 against the K-500.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX3 and K-500 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX3 and K-500.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The LX3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-500 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged LX3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography details
40
has manual focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.63")
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LX3
Street photography with Pentax K-500
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/1.63")
more heavy than competitors (265g)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect AF
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
great battery pack (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
60
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (265 grams)
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
67
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/1.63")
lack of Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
30
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (265g)
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-11-04 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME M
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
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
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
Focal length multiplier 4.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 39 79
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 13.1
DXO Low light score 94 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 shots
Battery style - AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $449 $600