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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Released July 2012
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax K-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SZ5 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the SZ5 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The SZ5 was announced 21 months prior to the K-3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ5 scores vs the K-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Pentax K-3

 SZ5 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic SZ5

 K-3 SZ5 
AnnouncedApril 2014July 2012More modern by 21 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax K-3

 SZ5 K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ5 has exterior dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax K-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ5 against the K-3.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ5 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out specs. The image below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ5 and K-3.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ5 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-3 will produce more detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged SZ5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
34
resolution is good (14MP)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
79
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography factors
Pentax K-3 Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (136g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 Sports photography info
40
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
bad battery life (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
70
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
environment sealing
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery life (560 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography information
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
bad battery life (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
32
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Pentax K-3
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-07-18 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Screen LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 gr (0.30 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 560 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One Two
Retail pricing $195 $639