Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K20D

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K20D, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the K20D (15MP) is very similar but the S3 (1/2.3") and K20D (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The S3 was announced 2 years after the K20D which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the S3 grades against the K20D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 & Pentax K20D. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic S3 Gallery & Pentax K20D Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic S3 has got outer measurements 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 K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K20D in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the S3 versus the K20D.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and K20D is 96 and 59 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The picture here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and K20D.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S3 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K20D will offer extra detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The newer S3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.