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Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic TS4
(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
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Old Model is Panasonic TS3
  • Successor is Panasonic TS5
Pentax K-3 II
(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
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the TS4 (12MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the TS4 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The TS4 was announced 4 years prior to the K-3 II which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the TS4 scores versus the K-3 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Pentax K-3 II

 TS4 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic TS4

 K-3 II TS4 
ReleasedApril 2015January 2012More modern by 39 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic TS4 and Pentax K-3 II

 TS4 K-3 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic TS4 features outside measurements 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 K-3 II has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the TS4 versus the K-3 II.

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TS4 and K-3 II is 92 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The picture below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TS4 and K-3 II.

All in all, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TS4 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will resolve extra detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged TS4 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic TS4
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
21
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
79
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Street photography advice
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic TS4 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Sports photography camera
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery life (310 CIPA)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography info
66
better than average battery life (310 per charge)
weather proofing
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
56
weather proof
good MP (24MP)
not so great battery power (720 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography highlights
41
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
better than average battery life (310 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (720 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging factors
32
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
no mic jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic TS4 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS4 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 Pentax K-3 II
Also called as Lumix DMC-FT4 -
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-31 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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
Number of focus points 23 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 197g (0.43 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 310 photos 720 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $399 $829