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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Launched January 2011
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched December 2009
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the K-x (12MP) is pretty similar but the S3 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The S3 was launched 13 months later than the K-x which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the S3 scores against the K-x with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K-x

 S3 K-x 
LaunchedJanuary 2011December 2009More recent by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic S3

 K-x S3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-x

 S3 K-x 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S3 has got outside dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-x has proportions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the S3 and the K-x.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S3 and K-x is 96 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the S3 and K-x.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S3 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic S3 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern S3 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-x Portrait photography details
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography details
Pentax K-x Street photography details
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-x Sports photography factors
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
61
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (1,900 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S3
Travel photography with Pentax K-x
68
lighter than competition (117g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
54
great battery power (1,900 shots)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Landscape photography camera
38
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (1,900 per charge)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-x Vlogging info
31
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K-x
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-01-05 2009-12-23
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV Prime
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 16.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
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) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 117 gr (0.26 lb) 580 gr (1.28 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 811
Other
Battery life 250 shots 1900 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $110 $600