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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 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
  • Revealed January 2011
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Launched June 2016
  • Successor is Pentax KF
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K-70, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the S3 (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The S3 was announced 6 years before the K-70 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the S3 scores versus the K-70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K-70

 S3 K-70 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Panasonic S3

 K-70 S3 
LaunchedJune 2016January 2011More modern by 66 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-70

 S3 K-70 
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S3 features external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-70 has measurements of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K-70 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the S3 against the K-70.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and K-70 is 96 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reading specifications. The pic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3 and K-70.

Plainly, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S3 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-70 will offer greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged S3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-70 Portrait photography highlights
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
80
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-70 Street photography advice
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
great ISO range (102,400)
more heavy than competition in class (688g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-70 Sports photography advice
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S3
Travel photography with Pentax K-70
68
lighter than competition (117g)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
64
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (688g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-70 Landscape photography highlights
38
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (102,400)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-70 Vlogging highlights
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
71
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (688 grams)
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K-70
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K-70
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-01-05 2016-06-08
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV PRIME MII
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 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 117 grams (0.26 lb) 688 grams (1.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 410 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots One One
Cost at release $110 $649