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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Released January 2011
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Superseded the Pentax Q
  • Updated by Pentax Q7
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax Q10, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is pretty similar and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S3 was launched 20 months before the Q10 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the S3 matches up vs the Q10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax Q10

 S3 Q10 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Panasonic S3

 Q10 S3 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2011Newer by 20 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax Q10

 S3 Q10 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic S3 has got physical 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 Q10 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax Q10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the S3 compared to the Q10.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S3 and Q10 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The pic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and Q10.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic S3 to deliver more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged S3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography highlights
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
48
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q10 Street photography highlights
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (200 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Sports photography camera
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
36
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (270 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S3
Travel photography with Pentax Q10
68
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
lighter than competition (200 grams)
flash built-in
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
Landscape photography with Pentax Q10
38
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
54
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q10 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (200g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax Q10
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax Q10
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax Q10
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-05 2012-09-10
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 7.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
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 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 183
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 270 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $110 $350