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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic TS3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Old Model is Panasonic TS2
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS4
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-30
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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic TS3 versus Pentax K-50, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the TS3 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the TS3 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TS3 was introduced 3 years earlier than the K-50 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the TS3 scores against the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Pentax K-50

 TS3 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic TS3

 K-50 TS3 
AnnouncedNovember 2013August 2011Newer by 27 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS3 and Pentax K-50

 TS3 K-50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic TS3 offers external dimensions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic TS3 versus Pentax K-50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the TS3 against the K-50.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the TS3 and K-50 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The pic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TS3 and K-50.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TS3 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-50 will show greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged TS3 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-50 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-50 Sports photography factors
37
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery power (310 per charge)
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-50 Travel photography factors
63
better than average battery power (310 per charge)
environment sealing
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
56
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery life (410 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic TS3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-50
38
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
better than average battery power (310 per charge)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-50 Vlogging advice
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS3 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Pentax K-50
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FT3 -
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-08-16 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 197g (0.43 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 310 photos 410 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $380 $610