Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax E85

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax E85, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and E85 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ3 was announced 3 years after the E85 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SZ3 grades vs the E85 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 and Pentax Optio E85. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic SZ3 Gallery and Pentax E85 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ3 features exterior measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax E85 has specifications of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax E85 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ3 versus the E85.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and E85 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ3 and E85.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic SZ3 to give you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SZ3 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.