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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(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
Pentax K-3
(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
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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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax K-3

 ZS15 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic ZS15

 K-3 ZS15 
RevealedApril 2014June 2012More recent by 21 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-3

 ZS15 K-3 
Screen typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and K-3 is 92 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
79
manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (208g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
61
lighter than others in class (208g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
weather sealing
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
terrible battery pack (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (208g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax 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