Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Here is a extensive comparison of the Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is very well matched but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The ZR3 was announced 4 years prior to the K-5 IIs and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the ZR3 grades versus the K-5 IIs in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 and Pentax K-5 IIs. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic ZR3 Gallery and Pentax K-5 IIs Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZR3 features outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the ZR3 and the K-5 IIs.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and K-5 IIs is 94 and 60 respectively.

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR3 and K-5 IIs.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZR3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 IIs will give more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older ZR3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.