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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio I-10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Key Specs

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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-3 II
Pentax I-10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax I-10, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and I-10 (12MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and I-10 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The K-3 was introduced 4 years after the I-10 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax I-10 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the K-3 scores vs the I-10 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax I-10

 K-3 I-10 
ReleasedApril 2014January 2010More modern by 52 months
Display dimension3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax I-10 over the Pentax K-3

 I-10 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax I-10

 K-3 I-10 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 has got exterior dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Pentax I-10 has dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax I-10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the K-3 versus the I-10.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the K-3 and I-10 is 59 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and I-10.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The K-3 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax K-3 will give extra detail using its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more recent K-3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography features
Pentax I-10 Portrait photography features
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-3
Street photography with Pentax I-10
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-3
Sports photography with Pentax I-10
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery power (560 shots)
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3
Travel photography with Pentax I-10
60
environment sealing
megapixel count good (24MP)
has built in flash
low battery power (560 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
57
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax I-10 as a Landscape photography camera
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery power (560 per charge)
36
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax I-10 Vlogging factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax I-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax I-10
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio I-10
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio I-10
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-04-10 2010-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6016 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 51200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 27 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.2" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 pounds) 153g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Two One
Launch pricing $639 $310