Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax K20D

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K20D, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and K20D (15MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and K20D (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The LX3 was launched 5 months after the K20D so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the LX3 scores versus the K20D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and Pentax K20D. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic LX3 Gallery and Pentax K20D Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic LX3 comes with external 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) whilst the Pentax K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax K20D in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the LX3 and the K20D.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LX3 and K20D is 91 and 59 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the LX3 and K20D.

Clearly, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The LX3 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K20D will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 5MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively.