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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is relatively close but the S3 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The S3 was manufactured 3 years before the K-5 IIs which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the S3 scores against the K-5 IIs when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 S3 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic S3

 K-5 IIs S3 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2011More modern by 29 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 S3 K-5 IIs 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S3 features external measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-5 IIs in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the S3 and the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S3 and K-5 IIs is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The pic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and K-5 IIs.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S3 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 IIs will result in greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged S3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Portrait photography camera
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography information
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Sports photography camera
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than others (117 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
65
weather proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
38
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
saves RAW files
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic support
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117g (0.26 pounds) 760g (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1208
Other
Battery life 250 images 980 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $110 $749