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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Launched November 2008
  • Renewed by Panasonic LX5
Pentax K-S2
(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  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
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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.

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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.

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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 
LaunchedFebruary 2015November 2008More recent by 76 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kSharper 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 dimensions3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-S2
40
focusing manually
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
78
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than average (265g)
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
heavier than competition in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography advice
27
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
has no phase detect AF
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography information
60
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (265g)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
environment sealing
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography features
52
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
does not have Time Lapse mode
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging information
30
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
heavier than average (265g)
71
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (678g)
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax 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