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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Released May 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-30
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Pentax K-50, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS3 was brought out 5 years before the K-50 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZS3 grades against the K-50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax K-50

 ZS3 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic ZS3

 K-50 ZS3 
LaunchedNovember 2013May 2009More recent by 55 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-50

 ZS3 K-50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 features outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Pentax K-50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS3 compared to the K-50.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS3 and K-50 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The photograph below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS3 and K-50.

All in all, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-50 will offer you more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The older ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography highlights
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
Street photography with Pentax K-50
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
more heavy than others (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-50 Sports photography advice
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
Travel photography with Pentax K-50
63
lighter than others (229 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
56
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
more heavy than others (650g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography information
35
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
30
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others (650 grams)
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax K-50
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-05-14 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229g (0.50 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
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 Single Single
Pricing at launch $200 $610