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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS25
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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS20 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the ZS20 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The ZS20 was launched 23 months prior to the K-3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZS20 scores versus the K-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Pentax K-3

 ZS20 K-3 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic ZS20

 K-3 ZS20 
IntroducedApril 2014April 2012More recent by 23 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-3

 ZS20 K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS20 provides external dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS20 versus Pentax K-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the ZS20 versus the K-3.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS20 and K-3 is 92 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through specifications. The photograph here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS20 and K-3.

To sum up, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS20 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will give more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older ZS20 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
30
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 Street photography advice
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition (206g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 Sports photography info
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (206g)
provides focus by touch
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery (260 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
environment sealing
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (560 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography highlights
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (260 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
bad battery (560 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 Vlogging info
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (206g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Pentax K-3
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-26 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 grams (0.45 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 260 photos 560 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Retail price $349 $639