Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax K100D

Here, we are contrasting the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K100D, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and K100D (6MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The ZR3 was manufactured 3 years later than the K100D and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the ZR3 matches up versus the K100D when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 & Pentax K100D. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZR3 Gallery & Pentax K100D Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZR3 has physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax K100D has measurements of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax K100D in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the ZR3 vs the K100D.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and K100D is 94 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and K100D.

Clearly, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZR3 due to its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic ZR3 will give you extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern ZR3 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.