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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio P80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Released April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Pentax P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and P80 (12MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and P80 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The K-3 was introduced 4 years later than the P80 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the K-3 scores vs the P80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax P80

 K-3 P80 
AnnouncedApril 2014August 2009Fresher by 57 months
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Pentax K-3

 P80 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax P80

 K-3 P80 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-3 comes with exterior dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Pentax P80 has measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the K-3 and the P80.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-3 and P80 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and P80.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The K-3 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will provide more detail using its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The newer K-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax P80 Portrait photography factors
79
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography features
Pentax P80 Street photography features
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
55
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Sports photography camera
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery (560 shots)
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3
Travel photography with Pentax P80
60
weather proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (560 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography details
Pentax P80 Landscape photography details
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
not so great battery (560 CIPA)
32
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax P80 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
28
relatively wide (28mm)
lighter than competition in class (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax P80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax P80
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio P80
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio P80
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-04-10 2009-08-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51200 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.6-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 125 grams (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI68
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Dual One
Price at launch $639 $200