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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 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-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-30
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the S3 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The S3 was brought out 3 years before the K-50 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the S3 scores vs the K-50 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K-50

 S3 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic S3

 K-50 S3 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2011More modern by 35 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-50

 S3 K-50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S3 has exterior measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the S3 vs the K-50.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and K-50 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking specs. The picture here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and K-50.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S3 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-50 will give you more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged S3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography information
Pentax K-50 Street photography information
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
heavier than competition in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-50 Sports photography advice
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than average (117 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
56
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (650g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography details
38
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging features
Pentax K-50 Vlogging features
31
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
heavier than competition in class (650g)
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K-50
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K-50
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV PRIME M
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 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
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) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117 gr (0.26 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 250 images 410 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
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
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $110 $610