Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2
91 Imaging
34 Features
40 Overall
36


64 Imaging
63 Features
82 Overall
70
Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs
(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
- Launched November 2008
- Renewed by Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/6000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
- Launched February 2015
- Superseded the Pentax K-S1

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview
On this page, we are contrasting the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-S2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and K-S2 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

The LX3 was manufactured 7 years before the K-S2 and that is quite a large gap 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-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the LX3 scores vs the K-S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and Pentax K-S2. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic LX3 Gallery and Pentax K-S2 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax K-S2
LX3 | K-S2 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic LX3
K-S2 | LX3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2015 | ![]() | November 2008 | More recent by 76 months |
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+461k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-S2
LX3 | K-S2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display dimensions |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither offers Touch friendly display |
Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison
In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LX3 offers physical dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).
Check out the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the LX3 versus the K-S2.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LX3 and K-S2 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over specs. The photograph below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX3 and K-S2.
All in all, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX3 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-S2 will offer you more detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older LX3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 | Pentax K-S2 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 | Pentax K-S2 |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Launched | 2008-11-04 | 2015-02-10 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | PRIME MII |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/1.63" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 8.07 x 5.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 44.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 20 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Highest Possible resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 5472 x 3648 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 51200 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | - | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
Lens zoom range | 24-60mm (2.5x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/2.0-2.8 | - |
Macro focusing range | 1cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
Focal length multiplier | 4.5 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.64x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/6000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 3.0 frames per second | 5.4 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 8.30 m | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 265g (0.58 lbs) | 678g (1.49 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 39 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 19.6 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.8 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 94 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 410 photos |
Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | D-LI109 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 secs) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at release | $449 | $581 |