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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic SZ8 versus Pentax K-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the SZ8 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The SZ8 was announced 3 months before the K-3 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SZ8 scores versus the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax K-3

 SZ8 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic SZ8

 K-3 SZ8 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-3

 SZ8 K-3 
RevealedJanuary 2014April 2014Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 provides physical dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 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 SZ8 versus Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ8 compared to the K-3.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ8 and K-3 is 94 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The pic below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and K-3.

All in all, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ8 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 will give you extra detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography highlights
35
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
you can focus manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
Street photography with Pentax K-3
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment sealing
decent MP (24MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery (560 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery life (200 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 Vlogging info
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (159g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax K-3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2014-01-06 2014-04-10
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine 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 surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 grams (0.35 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 photos 560 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Cost at launch $275 $639