Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3
95 Imaging
37 Features
41 Overall
38


59 Imaging
65 Features
85 Overall
73
Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
- Announced January 2012
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
- Revealed April 2014
- Later Model is Pentax K-3 II

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Overview
Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic SZ7 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the SZ7 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the SZ7 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

The SZ7 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the K-3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ7 matches up against the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 and Pentax K-3. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic SZ7 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax K-3
SZ7 | K-3 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic SZ7
K-3 | SZ7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | April 2014 | ![]() | January 2012 | Fresher by 27 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Display dimensions | 3.2" | ![]() | 3" | Larger display (+0.2") |
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+577k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-3
SZ7 | K-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch display |
Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ7 comes with outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic SZ7 versus Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ7 compared to the K-3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ7 and K-3 is 95 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ7 and K-3.
As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ7 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will provide extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older SZ7 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 | Pentax K-3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 | Pentax K-3 |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Advanced DSLR |
Announced | 2012-01-09 | 2014-04-10 |
Body design | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Prime III |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 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 |
Peak resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 6016 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 51200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 27 |
Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
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 | 4cm | - |
Total lenses | - | 151 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inches | 3.2 inches |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dot | 1,037 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD | TFT LCD monitor |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.64x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 8s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 10.0fps | 8.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.60 m | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction | Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/180s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 133 gr (0.29 lbs) | 800 gr (1.76 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" 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 | 220 photos | 560 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 shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | One | Two |
Retail price | $199 | $639 |