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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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 K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Updated by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is very comparable but the SZ3 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ3 was introduced 2 years after the K-5 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ3 scores vs the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax K-5

 SZ3 K-5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013December 2010More modern by 26 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic SZ3

 K-5 SZ3 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-5

 SZ3 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ3 offers physical measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ3 and the K-5.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ3 and K-5 is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing specifications. The picture below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ3 and K-5.

Plainly, both cameras posses the exact same MP but not the same sensor sizes. The SZ3 provides the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh harder. The fresher SZ3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography highlights
30
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Street photography highlights
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-5 Sports photography factors
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition (126g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
65
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography features
39
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax K-5
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-01-07 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 gr (0.28 lb) 740 gr (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 980 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $150 $800