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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
Pentax RZ10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-280mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Pentax K-3 and Pentax RZ10, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and RZ10 (14MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and RZ10 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The K-3 was announced 2 years after the RZ10 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the K-3 matches up against the RZ10 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax RZ10

 K-3 RZ10 
IntroducedApril 2014July 2011More modern by 34 months
Display size3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ10 over the Pentax K-3

 RZ10 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax RZ10

 K-3 RZ10 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 comes with physical measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax RZ10 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-3 and Pentax RZ10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the K-3 and the RZ10.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and RZ10 is 59 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 and RZ10.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-3 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will give extra detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more modern K-3 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography features
Pentax RZ10 Portrait photography features
79
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
35
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography highlights
Pentax RZ10 Street photography highlights
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-3
Sports photography with Pentax RZ10
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (560 shots)
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (178 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax RZ10 Travel photography factors
60
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery (560 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
weather proof
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (280mm)
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery (178 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RZ10 Landscape photography factors
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (560 shots)
43
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery (178 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax RZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax RZ10
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio RZ10
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio RZ10
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-04-10 2011-07-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 51200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-280mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800g (1.76 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 pictures 178 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Dual Single
Cost at launch $639 $200