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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
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
  • Launched April 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS8 was revealed 3 years prior to the K-3 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the ZS8 matches up against the K-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax K-3

 ZS8 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic ZS8

 K-3 ZS8 
LaunchedApril 2014July 2011Fresher by 33 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-3

 ZS8 K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS8 features exterior measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS8 compared to the K-3.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS8 and K-3 is 92 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by going over specs. The graphic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS8 and K-3.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS8 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will offer you more detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS8 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
30
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
Pentax K-3 Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
good high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-3 Sports photography factors
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (560 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
69
lighter than average (210 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
environment proof
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery (560 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
44
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
not so great battery (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
30
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Pentax K-3
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-07-19 2014-04-10
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD 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 surface 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
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210g (0.46 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 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 340 pictures 560 pictures
Type 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
Storage slots One Dual
Retail cost $275 $639