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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-7
  • Later Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS3 was unveiled 19 months before the K-5 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a short view of how the ZS3 scores vs the K-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax K-5

 ZS3 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic ZS3

 K-5 ZS3 
ReleasedDecember 2010May 2009More recent by 19 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-5

 ZS3 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 offers outer dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS3 vs the K-5.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and K-5 is 91 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The graphic here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and K-5.

To sum up, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 will result in greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older ZS3 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography factors
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
Travel photography with Pentax K-5
63
lighter than others in class (229g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography factors
35
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
Vlogging with Pentax K-5
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax K-5
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax K-5
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-05-14 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 photographs
Battery format - 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $200 $800