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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LZ30
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
  • Released April 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic LZ20 versus Pentax K-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the LZ20 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the LZ20 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The LZ20 was unveiled 21 months prior to the K-3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the LZ20 scores vs the K-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Pentax K-3

 LZ20 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic LZ20

 K-3 LZ20 
ReleasedApril 2014July 2012More modern by 21 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-3

 LZ20 K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic LZ20 comes with outer dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has sizing 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 LZ20 versus Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the LZ20 vs the K-3.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LZ20 and K-3 is 71 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the LZ20 and K-3.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LZ20 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-3 will produce more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged LZ20 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography highlights
36
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
79
you can focus manually
MP count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 Street photography info
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than others (499g)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 Sports photography advice
47
excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 shots)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery life (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 Travel photography features
58
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (499 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
weather proof
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery life (560 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
45
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
great battery pack (380 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
low battery life (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-3 Vlogging highlights
25
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than others (499 grams)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ20 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 Pentax K-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-07-18 2014-04-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-525mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.80 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
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 499 gr (1.10 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 380 shots 560 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Two
Launch price $250 $639