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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax Efina front
Portability
97
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
Pentax Efina
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 91g - 87 x 54 x 21mm
  • Released June 2013
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the Efina (14MP) is pretty well matched and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ3 was revealed 4 months before the Efina and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Efina being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ3 grades vs the Efina when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax Efina

 SZ3 Efina 
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Pentax Efina over the Panasonic SZ3

 Efina SZ3 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax Efina

 SZ3 Efina 
ReleasedJanuary 2013June 2013Similar age
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ3 features outside measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax Efina has specifications of 87mm x 54mm x 21mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.8") along with a weight of 91 grams (0.20 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ3 and the Efina.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and Efina is 96 and 97 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specifications. The photograph underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ3 and Efina.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ3 to resolve extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax Efina Portrait photography advice
30
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
Street photography with Pentax Efina
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
64
built in image stabilization (Digital)
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
Pentax Efina Sports photography info
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
35
built in image stabilization (Digital)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography advice
Pentax Efina Travel photography advice
71
lighter than average (126g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax Efina Landscape photography factors
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
38
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Efina as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
33
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax Efina Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax Efina
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax Efina
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax Efina
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2013-01-07 2013-06-03
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 20cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD QVGA TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 1/8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1400 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 grams (0.28 lb) 91 grams (0.20 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 87 x 54 x 21mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 250 photos 200 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SC/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $150 $10