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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZR3 versus Pentax K-3 II, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The ZR3 was brought out 6 years prior to the K-3 II which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZR3 scores vs the K-3 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax K-3 II

 ZR3 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic ZR3

 K-3 II ZR3 
LaunchedApril 2015January 2010More modern by 63 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-3 II

 ZR3 K-3 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZR3 enjoys outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZR3 versus Pentax K-3 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the ZR3 and the K-3 II.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and K-3 II is 94 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading through specs. The image underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZR3 and K-3 II.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZR3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will resolve extra detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged ZR3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
28
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
has manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Street photography advice
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
has tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
bad battery pack (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography highlights
65
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
57
weather proof
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
bad battery pack (720 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Landscape photography camera
37
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
bad battery pack (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZR3
Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
29
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax K-3 II
Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-01-26 2015-04-23
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II 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 area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159 gr (0.35 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 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 - 720 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One Dual
Retail pricing $280 $829