Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 vs Pentax Optio P80: An Expert Comparison of Two Small Sensor Compacts

In the world of small sensor compact cameras, choices abound - but few models deliver the kind of real-world usability and feature balance that serve both novice enthusiasts and casual shooters looking for a straightforward travel companion. Today, I’m diving deep into two cameras that have stirred considerable interest: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 (hereafter Panasonic SZ3) and the Pentax Optio P80. Though both fall within the “small sensor compact” category, their design philosophies, feature sets, and shooting experiences differ markedly.

My comparison draws from hours of hands-on testing and a thorough technical evaluation aimed at photographers who want clarity on which of these models best suits their needs and workflows. I’ll walk through their construction, sensor capabilities, autofocus systems, shooting versatility, and more - concluding with clear recommendations tailored to different photography genres and user expectations.

Let’s get started!

First Impressions and Handling: Ergonomics Matter

Both cameras are designed primarily around portability and ease of use, targeting casual shooters and travelers who want more than just a smartphone camera.

Panasonic SZ3: Slim and Streamlined

The Panasonic SZ3 tips the scales at a mere 126 grams with a slim profile measuring 95x56x22 mm. This ultra-compact build makes it exceptionally pocketable - ideal for those who dread lugging equipment around. Its minimalistic design emphasizes simplicity, although it means some trade-offs in physical controls, such as lacking a dedicated manual focus ring or advanced buttons.

Pentax P80: Slightly Chunkier with a Traditional Feel

The Pentax Optio P80 weighs 125 grams but is a little more substantial dimensionally at 102x59x25 mm, offering a slightly chunkier grip that could benefit users who prefer a firmer hold. While the P80’s layout is simple, Pentax includes manual focus capability - a feature that Panasonic’s SZ3 omits entirely.

Ergonomics takeaway: If pocketability and minimum footprint drive your decision, the Panasonic SZ3 edges forward. Meanwhile, the Pentax P80’s slightly larger body may appeal to those who value a bit more presence and tactile controls, including manual focus.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: What Happens ‘Under the Hood’

Despite both cameras featuring 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors (a common size for compact cameras), their resolutions and imaging characteristics vary.

Sensor Specs

• Panasonic SZ3: 16MP resolution (4608x3456), 27.72 mm² sensor area
• Pentax P80: 12MP resolution (4000x3000), 28.07 mm² sensor area

Both sensors incorporate an anti-alias filter and deliver similar pixel densities, though Panasonic packs more megapixels into a fractionally smaller physical sensor surface.

The practical outcomes of this layout are telling:

• The Panasonic SZ3’s higher resolution provides more detail when cropping or printing moderate-sized images, though it comes at the risk of slightly increased noise in dim conditions due to smaller individual photosites.

• The Pentax P80’s slightly larger pixel pitch (thanks to fewer pixels over a similar sensor area) generally produces cleaner images in low light but sacrifices some resolving power.

Image Quality in Practice

Over multiple shooting sessions, I noticed:

• Panasonic’s images boast sharper overall detail, especially outdoors in good light. Its 16MP CCD sensor strikes a decent balance for casual landscapes and street shots.
• Pentax images, while lower resolution, hold noise better at higher ISOs - an advantage for indoor or low-light street photography.

Both cameras suffer from the inherent limitations of modest sensor sizes: dynamic range and low-light capacity can feel constrained, pushing photographers to shoot in good lighting or embrace the noise.

Autofocus Systems and Performance: Speed vs Precision

Autofocus is often the make-or-break feature for fast-paced shooting scenarios. Here’s how they stack up:

The SZ3’s 23-point contrast-detect AF gives it a modest advantage in acquiring focus across the frame and offers continuous AF for moving subjects - a feature rare in this category at this budget level. However, autofocus hunting occurred frequently in low contrast or dim environments.

Contrast this with the Pentax P80’s simpler 9-point AF, which operates reliably but with an absence of tracking and continuous modes. Its inclusion of manual focus is a rare bonus, allowing more creative control in macro or tricky lighting situations.

For wildlife, sports, and fast-paced street photography, neither camera was a standout, but the SZ3’s tracking mode provides a marginally better experience.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability Check

Neither camera boasts professional-grade environmental sealing. Both are vulnerable to dust, water, and shock, reflecting the entry-level target market.

• Panasonic SZ3: Lightweight plastic chassis without any sealing or rugged features.
• Pentax P80: Similar plastic build, no weather-resistance, but the slightly thicker body imparts a feeling of greater robustness.

For photographers who prioritize durability or plan to shoot outdoors in challenging weather, both cameras fall short. Ruggedness is not their strong suit.

Viewing and Interface: Screen and Controls

Both models share a 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD screen with 230k-dot resolution. This results in modest image playback sharpness and limited rear-screen visibility in bright outdoor lighting.

Both cameras lack an electronic viewfinder, a notable omission if you shoot in bright sun or need stable framing.

Controls

• Panasonic SZ3 favors minimal buttons and mode dials, focusing on point-and-shoot simplicity.
• Pentax P80 adds some manual focus options accessible via button presses but remains basic overall.

The lack of touchscreen is unsurprising given their market segment and release dates but does mean slower menu navigation compared to contemporary models.

Lens Performance and Versatility: Zoom and Aperture Range

Panasonic SZ3:

• Focal Range: 25-250mm equivalent (10x optical zoom)
• Max Aperture: f/3.1–5.9

Pentax P80:

• Focal Range: 28-110mm equivalent (4x optical zoom)
• Max Aperture: f/2.6–5.8

The Panasonic’s generous 10x zoom range offers remarkable framing flexibility - from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife. However, its apertures are fairly modest, meaning low-light shooting and depth-of-field control are limited.

The Pentax P80’s lens starts notably faster at f/2.6 on the wide end, a real benefit for low light and portraits, though it sacrifices telephoto reach, maxing out at 110mm equivalent.

Burst Shooting and Video Capabilities: Movement and Motion

• Panasonic SZ3: Single fps continuous shooting (slow for action), 720p HD video at 30fps with Motion JPEG compression.
• Pentax P80: 3fps burst mode (better for casual action), similar 720p HD video with broader format and resolution options (including 848x480 and 320x240).

Neither camera is optimized for high-speed sports or wildlife capture, but the Pentax provides more flexibility for short bursts - albeit with limited buffer depth.

Video is functional and straightforward on both, adequate for casual use but lacking modern codecs or stabilization on the Pentax. The Panasonic SZ3 includes optical image stabilization, helping smooth handheld clips.

Specialized Focus: What Each Camera Excels At

Let’s see how each model fares across common photography genres:

Panasonic SZ3 front Panasonic SZ3 screen back Pentax P80 front Pentax P80 screen back

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic’s longer zoom range can compress backgrounds nicely, but modest apertures and lack of face detection limit bokeh quality and do not prioritize skin tones.
• Pentax’s faster wide aperture (f/2.6) helps in low light and yields better subject isolation, although shorter zoom restricts framing flexibility.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic’s more versatile zoom gives wider views and detailed framing; image quality is sharper but dynamic range remains modest across both.
• Neither offers weather sealing, which limits landscape shooting in adverse conditions.

Wildlife Photography

• Panasonic’s extensive 250mm reach combined with tracking AF (albeit slow) is appealing for casual animal shots.
• Pentax’s limited zoom and slower AF reduce its wildlife credentials.

Sports Photography

• Neither camera targets sports shooters. The Pentax’s faster burst rate offers some advantage but limited buffer and sluggish AF hamper results.
• Panasonic’s single fps burst and slow AF tracking make it difficult to capture action sequences reliably.

Street Photography

• Both offer small sizes and discreet designs, but the Panasonic’s longer lens complicates quick framing, while the Pentax’s wider field is more flexible.
• Low-light capabilities favor the Pentax with its faster aperture.

Macro Photography

• Panasonic SZ3 has a minimum focus distance of 5cm, slightly better than the Pentax’s 10cm, allowing closer macro shots.
• However, neither includes focus stacking or post-focus features.

Night and Astro Photography

• Image noise at ISO 6400 is significant on both models due to sensor limitations.
• The Pentax’s slower shutter limit (max 1/1000 sec) versus Panasonic’s wider shutter range (max 1/1600 sec) does little to affect night shooting capabilities.
• Neither offers special astro modes.

Video and Travel Photography

• Panasonic SZ3’s optical IS and broader zoom make it a better choice for casual travel video and photography.
• Pentax’s HDMI output is useful for external displays but lacks stabilization.

Professional Workflows

• Both cameras support only JPEG files - raw capture isn’t supported - limiting post-processing control.
• No tethering or wireless connectivity options are available.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs with moderate endurance:

• Panasonic SZ3 rated for about 250 shots per charge: average but adequate for casual use.
• Pentax P80 battery life is unspecified but generally similar; it uses the D-LI68 battery pack.

Storage on both is handled via SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with one slot each.

Neither camera features wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), GPS tagging, or NFC. Connectivity is basic: USB 2.0 for data transfer; Pentax alone includes an HDMI port.

Pricing and Value: What You’re Actually Paying For

At launch, Panasonic SZ3 retailed around $150, with Pentax P80 closer to $200. This modest price difference contrasts with several important feature disparities:

• Panasonic shines with 16MP resolution and huge 10x zoom plus stabilization.
• Pentax impresses with faster lens aperture, manual focus, and HDMI output.

For budget-oriented buyers, the Panasonic often delivers more “bang for the buck” in terms of versatility and image quality.

Comparative Summary with a Scorecard

Here is a side-by-side overview reflecting my hands-on evaluation:

Which Camera Should You Buy? Practical Recommendations

Choose Panasonic Lumix SZ3 If You:

• Need a compact, lightweight camera with a powerful zoom range for travel and wildlife snapshots.
• Prioritize image detail and stabilization for video.
• Prefer continuous AF and subject tracking capabilities.
• Want a simple, straightforward user interface with decent battery life.

Choose Pentax Optio P80 If You:

• Value faster wide-angle lens apertures for low-light and portrait shots.
• Want manual focus control to experiment with precise focusing or macro work.
• Require HDMI output for easy video playback on TVs or monitors.
• Prefer a slightly more substantial grip and more flexible burst shooting.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Convenience and Capability

These cameras showcase how small sensor compacts can serve very different user niches despite similar class and price. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 is the more versatile and feature-rich option for travellers who want an all-around shooter with extensive zoom and stabilization. Meanwhile, the Pentax Optio P80 carves out its own corner as a budget-friendly camera focused on wider apertures, manual focus, and simple video output.

If you seek cutting-edge sensor performance, manual controls, or advanced autofocus, the answer might lie beyond this category (consider mirrorless or advanced compacts). However, within this price and size range, these two cameras still hold value for specific assignments - particularly when willingness to trade off some image quality and speed for portability matters.

For a clear visualization of how these cameras perform across different photography types, refer to the table below:

This expert comparison is based on exhaustive real-world tests supplemented by technical analysis - I hope it aids your decision-making. Whether you lean Panasonic or Pentax, knowing each camera’s true strengths allows you to pick your next travel or casual camera with confidence.

Happy shooting!