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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Old Model is Panasonic TS2
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS4
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the TS3 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is pretty similar but the TS3 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") use different sensor sizes.

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The TS3 was revealed 22 months prior to the MX-1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the TS3 matches up against the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Pentax MX-1

 TS3 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic TS3

 MX-1 TS3 
LaunchedJuly 2013August 2011Fresher by 22 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS3 and Pentax MX-1

 TS3 MX-1 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic TS3 comes with outer dimensions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the TS3 vs the MX-1.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TS3 and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TS3 and MX-1.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The TS3 contains the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult. The older TS3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography highlights
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
42
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic TS3
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (310 shots)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery (290 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
64
better than average battery power (310 shots)
environment proofing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
61
good battery (290 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic TS3 Landscape photography information
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography information
38
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
better than average battery power (310 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
good battery (290 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic TS3
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
32
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
33
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
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Panasonic TS3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS3 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Pentax MX-1
Also called as Lumix DMC-FT3 -
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-08-16 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 197g (0.43 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 310 photos 290 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $380 $400