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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-5, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly close but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The ZR3 was manufactured 10 months earlier than the K-5 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the ZR3 grades vs the K-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax K-5

 ZR3 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic ZR3

 K-5 ZR3 
ReleasedDecember 2010January 2010More modern by 10 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-5

 ZR3 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR3 features outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the ZR3 versus the K-5.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and K-5 is 94 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The pic underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and K-5.

All in all, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZR3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-5 will render extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged ZR3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 Street photography information
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 Sports photography details
37
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
Travel photography with Pentax K-5
65
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-5 Vlogging info
29
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax K-5
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-01-26 2010-12-18
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $280 $800