Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D

Following is a detailed overview of the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K100D, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and K100D (6MP) and the S3 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The S3 was introduced 4 years after the K100D which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick view of how the S3 scores against the K100D in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 & Pentax K100D. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic S3 Gallery & Pentax K100D Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic S3 offers exterior dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Pentax K100D has specifications of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K100D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the S3 vs the K100D.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S3 and K100D is 96 and 64 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3 and K100D.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S3 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic S3 will result in greater detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent S3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.