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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Revealed January 2013
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is very close but the SZ3 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ3 was announced 4 months before the K-5 IIs so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ3 scores vs the K-5 IIs with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 SZ3 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic SZ3

 K-5 IIs SZ3 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 SZ3 K-5 IIs 
ReleasedJanuary 2013June 2013Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ3 offers outside 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-5 IIs has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

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

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ3 versus the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ3 and K-5 IIs is 96 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and K-5 IIs.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The SZ3 has the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field trickier.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography info
30
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography details
41
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography advice
71
lighter than average (126g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
weather proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography factors
39
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 IIs
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-01-07 2013-06-04
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
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) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 gr (0.28 lbs) 760 gr (1.68 lbs)
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 Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1208
Other
Battery life 250 photos 980 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $150 $749