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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S 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 K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Launched June 2007
  • Previous Model is Pentax K100D
  • Newer Model is Pentax K200D
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K100D S, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and K100D S (6MP) and the S3 (1/2.3") and K100D S (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The S3 was announced 3 years after the K100D S which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the S3 matches up against the K100D S with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K100D S

 S3 K100D S 
LaunchedJanuary 2011June 2007Newer by 43 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kSharper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Panasonic S3

 K100D S S3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K100D S

 S3 K100D S 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S3 comes with physical 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) while the Pentax K100D S has proportions of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K100D S in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the S3 vs the K100D S.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S3 and K100D S is 96 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through specifications. The image here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3 and K100D S.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S3 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic S3 will show greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger S3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Portrait photography camera
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
51
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography details
Pentax K100D S Sports photography details
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S3
Travel photography with Pentax K100D S
68
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
45
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (6MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography advice
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (6MP)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic S3
Vlogging with Pentax K100D S
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
9
no video
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K100D S
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K100D Super
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2007-06-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117g (0.26 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 250 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $110 $520