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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Panasonic ZS5 versus Pentax K-3 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS5 was revealed 5 years prior to the K-3 II and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS5 matches up vs the K-3 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax K-3 II

 ZS5 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic ZS5

 K-3 II ZS5 
AnnouncedApril 2015June 2010Fresher by 59 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-3 II

 ZS5 K-3 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS5 has got physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS5 versus Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS5 and the K-3 II.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and K-3 II is 92 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The photograph here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS5 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS5 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will show greater detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older ZS5 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
27
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography details
Pentax K-3 II Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography features
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (720 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competition (214 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
56
environment sealing
good resolution (24MP)
low battery pack (720 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography information
33
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery pack (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging factors
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (214 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax K-3 II
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-06-16 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II Prime III
Sensor type CCD 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 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1300s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" 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 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single 2
Retail pricing $300 $829