Clicky

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced March 2009
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the P70 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The ZR3 was announced 11 months later than the P70 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the ZR3 matches up against the P70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax P70

 ZR3 P70 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010March 2009More recent by 11 months

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Panasonic ZR3

 P70 ZR3 
Focus manually More exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax P70

 ZR3 P70 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZR3 features exterior measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax P70 has specifications of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the ZR3 compared to the P70.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and P70 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through technical specs. The graphic below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR3 and P70.

As you have seen, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZR3 to resolve more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher ZR3 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR3
Portrait photography with Pentax P70
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Street photography camera
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography information
Pentax P70 Sports photography information
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography info
Pentax P70 Travel photography info
64
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
56
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography features
Pentax P70 Landscape photography features
37
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
32
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging info
Pentax P70 Vlogging info
29
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax P70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax Optio P70
Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2010-01-26 2009-03-02
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159 gr (0.35 lb) 155 gr (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $280 $200