Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3
92 Imaging
36 Features
37 Overall
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59 Imaging
65 Features
85 Overall
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
- Released June 2012
- Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
- Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
- Revealed April 2014
- Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Overview
Here, we will be reviewing the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe ZS15 was brought out 21 months earlier than the K-3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the ZS15 matches up vs the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 and Pentax K-3. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZS15 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax K-3
ZS15 | K-3 |
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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic ZS15
K-3 | ZS15 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | April 2014 | June 2012 | More recent by 21 months | |
Manually focus | More precise focusing | |||
Screen size | 3.2" | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") | |
Screen resolution | 1037k | 460k | Clearer screen (+577k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-3
ZS15 | K-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
Selfie screen | Neither comes with selfie screen | |||
Touch screen | Neither comes with Touch screen |
Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison
If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS15 comes with outside dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS15 against the K-3.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and K-3 is 92 and 59 respectively.
Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The photograph below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS15 and K-3.
As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS15 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will produce more detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older ZS15 will be behind in sensor technology.
Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 | Pentax K-3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 | Pentax K-3 |
Otherwise known as | Lumix DMC-TZ25 | - |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
Released | 2012-06-29 | 2014-04-10 |
Physical type | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Prime III |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 24MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 6016 x 4000 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 51200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 27 |
Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
Lens zoom range | 24-384mm (16.0x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
Macro focusing range | 3cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 3 inches | 3.2 inches |
Resolution of screen | 460 thousand dots | 1,037 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD monitor |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.64x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 2.0 frames per second | 8.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.40 m | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | - | 1/180 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 208g (0.46 lbs) | 800g (1.76 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") | 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 80 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.4 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1216 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 260 shots | 560 shots |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | D-LI90 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | One | 2 |
Cost at release | $279 | $639 |