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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Panasonic ZR3 versus Pentax K-r, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the K-r (12MP) is very well matched but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZR3 was introduced 13 months earlier than the K-r making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZR3 matches up vs the K-r with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax K-r

 ZR3 K-r 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic ZR3

 K-r ZR3 
IntroducedMarch 2011January 2010More recent by 13 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-r

 ZR3 K-r 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZR3 features outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-r has measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR3 versus Pentax K-r in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the ZR3 vs the K-r.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZR3 and K-r is 94 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR3 and K-r.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZR3 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Panasonic ZR3 will give you more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The older ZR3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-r Portrait photography highlights
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
Street photography with Pentax K-r
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Sports photography camera
36
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
64
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
47
has built in flash
low battery life (470 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-r Landscape photography information
37
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZR3
Vlogging with Pentax K-r
29
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax K-r
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax K-r
Alternate name Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-26 2011-03-11
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 lb) 598g (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 755
Other
Battery life - 470 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $280 $1,100