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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 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
  • Released January 2013
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly similar but the SZ3 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ3 was announced 3 months after the K-30 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the SZ3 scores versus the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax K-30

 SZ3 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic SZ3

 K-30 SZ3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-30

 SZ3 K-30 
RevealedJanuary 2013October 2012Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ3 has outer dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ3 versus the K-30.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and K-30 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The image here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ3 and K-30.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The SZ3 has the tinier sensor which should make getting bokeh tougher.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
30
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
Street photography with Pentax K-30
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment proof
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax K-30
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.10 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126 grams (0.28 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 250 images 410 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $150 $525