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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Announced January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released January 2006
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax ist DL2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZR3 was manufactured 4 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a sizable 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 ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the ZR3 grades against the ist DL2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Pentax ist DL2

 ZR3 ist DL2 
ReleasedJanuary 2010January 2006More recent by 49 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kClearer display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic ZR3

 ist DL2 ZR3 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax ist DL2

 ZR3 ist DL2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR3 comes with exterior measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax ist DL2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the ZR3 vs the ist DL2.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the ZR3 and ist DL2 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR3 and ist DL2.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZR3 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic ZR3 will give you greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern ZR3 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
51
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Street photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography information
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (565 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
Sports photography with Pentax ist DL2
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has 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")
lacks phase detect autofocus
39
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography info
65
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
52
lighter than competitors in class (565g)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low MP (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography factors
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
47
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging highlights
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
22
lighter than competitors in class (565 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low ( pixels)
missing external microphone port
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pentax ist DL2
Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-01-26 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 5
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE 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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format AVCHD Lite -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 lbs) 565g (1.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $280 -