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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(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
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 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
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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.

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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.

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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 
RevealedApril 2014January 2012Fresher by 27 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-3

 SZ7 K-3 
Display typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

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

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ7
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
79
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (133g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
bad battery life (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
70
lighter than average (133g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment sealing
MP count good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery life (560 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery life (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-3 Vlogging highlights
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (133 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic jack
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax 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