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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K-7, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty similar but the S3 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The S3 was unveiled 16 months after the K-7 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the S3 scores vs the K-7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K-7

 S3 K-7 
ReleasedJanuary 2011October 2009More modern by 16 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic S3

 K-7 S3 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-7

 S3 K-7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S3 comes with physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K-7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the S3 compared to the K-7.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and K-7 is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by reading a spec sheet. The pic below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S3 and K-7.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S3 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-7 will offer you more detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher S3 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography details
28
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography factors
Pentax K-7 Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography features
Pentax K-7 Sports photography features
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
69
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-7 Travel photography details
68
lighter than average in class (117g)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
64
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
38
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-7 Vlogging highlights
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K-7
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K-7
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2009-10-02
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 6400 2000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 117 grams (0.26 lbs) 750 grams (1.65 lbs)
Physical 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 rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 980 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $110 $599