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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic TS3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic TS2
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS4
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the TS3 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the TS3 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The TS3 was manufactured 3 years prior to the K-500 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the TS3 scores vs the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Pentax K-500

 TS3 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic TS3

 K-500 TS3 
ReleasedNovember 2013August 2011Newer by 27 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS3 and Pentax K-500

 TS3 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic TS3 provides outside measurements of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the TS3 and the K-500.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TS3 and K-500 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the TS3 and K-500.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TS3 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-500 will give you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged TS3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography info
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Street photography information
Pentax K-500 Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
37
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery life (310 per charge)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
63
great battery life (310 CIPA)
weather sealing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic TS3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
38
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
great battery life (310 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Vlogging information
Pentax K-500 Vlogging information
31
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS3 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Pentax K-500
Also called as Lumix DMC-FT3 -
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-08-16 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias 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
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 197 grams (0.43 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
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 rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 710 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $380 $600