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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Pentax K-3 II
(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
  • Released April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the XS1 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the XS1 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The XS1 was brought out 3 years earlier than the K-3 II which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the XS1 grades against the K-3 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Pentax K-3 II

 XS1 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic XS1

 K-3 II XS1 
ReleasedApril 2015January 2013More modern by 27 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen dimension3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic XS1 and Pentax K-3 II

 XS1 K-3 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic XS1 has got external measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") having a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the XS1 compared to the K-3 II.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the XS1 and K-3 II is 97 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the XS1 and K-3 II.

Clearly, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XS1 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will provide you with greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged XS1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography highlights
30
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography factors
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic XS1
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
69
lighter than competition (103 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
56
environment proof
good resolution (24MP)
terrible battery life (720 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography advice
39
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
terrible battery life (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic XS1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic XS1 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic XS1 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 Pentax K-3 II
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2013-01-07 2015-04-23
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest 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 detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 103 gr (0.23 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 photographs 720 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $130 $829