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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Released January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • New Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic ZR3 versus Pentax K-7, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is fairly close but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZR3 was released 4 months after the K-7 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summary of how the ZR3 matches up against the K-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax K-7

 ZR3 K-7 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic ZR3

 K-7 ZR3 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-7

 ZR3 K-7 
LaunchedJanuary 2010October 2009Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZR3 offers outer dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZR3 versus Pentax K-7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZR3 against the K-7.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and K-7 is 94 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The image here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZR3 and K-7.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZR3 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-7 will render more detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-7
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
72
has manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Street photography features
Pentax K-7 Street photography features
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Sports photography highlights
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
69
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography features
Pentax K-7 Travel photography features
64
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
64
environment proofing
good MP (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-7
37
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging features
Pentax K-7 Vlogging features
29
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax K-7
Also called Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-01-26 2009-10-02
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 6400 2000
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
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 11 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 lb) 750g (1.65 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 Overall score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 536
Other
Battery life - 980 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $280 $599