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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LX5
  • New Model is Panasonic LX10
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the LX7 (10MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the LX7 (1/1.7") and K-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The LX7 was unveiled 18 months before the K-3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the LX7 scores versus the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX7 over the Pentax K-3

 LX7 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic LX7

 K-3 LX7 
IntroducedApril 2014October 2012More recent by 18 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-3

 LX7 K-3 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic LX7 offers external dimensions of 111mm x 68mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the LX7 versus the K-3.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX7 and K-3 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The photograph below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the LX7 and K-3.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX7 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will give greater detail having an extra 14MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older LX7 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX7 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
45
focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
79
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX7 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 Street photography advice
58
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (298 grams)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX7 Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 Sports photography information
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (330 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
low battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX7 Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 Travel photography features
64
great battery power (330 per charge)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.4)
heavier than competition in class (298g)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
built-in flash
low battery (560 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LX7
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
57
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.4)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (330 shots)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low battery (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX7 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 Vlogging details
33
really wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.4)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
heavier than competition in class (298g)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Pentax K-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-10-15 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Max aperture f/1.4-2.3 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.50 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298g (0.66 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 80
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 13.4
DXO Low light rating 147 1216
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 560 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One Dual
Cost at launch $400 $639