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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Successor is Pentax K100D S
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and K100D (6MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The ZS3 was brought out 2 years later than the K100D and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the ZS3 scores against the K100D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax K100D

 ZS3 K100D 
AnnouncedMay 2009December 2006More recent by 30 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kClearer screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Panasonic ZS3

 K100D ZS3 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K100D

 ZS3 K100D 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS3 enjoys 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 K100D has proportions of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the ZS3 compared to the K100D.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and K100D is 91 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The visual here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and K100D.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic ZS3 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher ZS3 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
Portrait photography with Pentax K100D
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
51
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (6 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
58
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
more heavy than others in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K100D Sports photography highlights
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
Pentax K100D Travel photography details
63
lighter than average (229g)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
42
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (660 grams)
MP count low (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Landscape photography camera
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview
MP count low (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K100D as a Vlogging camera
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K100D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax K100D
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax K100D
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2009-05-14 2006-12-03
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format AVCHD Lite -
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 lbs) 660g (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $200 $0