Panasonic TZ90 vs Pentax K-3 III
The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 (called Panasonic ZS70 in some regions) and the Pentax K-3 III are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in April 2017 and March 2021. The TZ90 is a fixed lens compact, while the K-3 III is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (TZ90) and an APS-C (K-3 III) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 25.6 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Check TZ90 offers at
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Check K-3 III price at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 and the Pentax K-3 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The physical size and weight of the Panasonic TZ90 and the Pentax K-3 III are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, silver).



If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-3 III is considerably larger (87 percent) than the Panasonic TZ90. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-3 III is splash and dust-proof, while the TZ90 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the TZ90 has a lens built in, whereas the K-3 III is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.
Concerning battery life, the TZ90 gets 380 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLG10 battery, while the K-3 III can take 800 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack. The power pack in the TZ90 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic TZ90 | 112 mm | 67 mm | 41 mm | 322 g | 380 | n | Apr 2017 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Pentax K-3 III | 135 mm | 104 mm | 74 mm | 820 g | 800 | Y | Mar 2021 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon M100 | 108 mm | 67 mm | 35 mm | 302 g | 295 | n | Aug 2017 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon SX720 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 36 mm | 270 g | 250 | n | Feb 2016 | US$ 379 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Canon SX730 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 40 mm | 300 g | 250 | n | Apr 2017 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Canon SX740 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 40 mm | 299 g | 265 | n | Jul 2018 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Fujifilm X-H1 | 140 mm | 97 mm | 86 mm | 673 g | 310 | Y | Feb 2018 | US$ 1 899 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Fujifilm XF10 | 113 mm | 64 mm | 41 mm | 279 g | 330 | n | Jul 2018 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Panasonic FT7 | 117 mm | 76 mm | 37 mm | 319 g | 300 | Y | May 2018 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Panasonic FZ82 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 119 mm | 616 g | 330 | n | Jan 2017 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
| 11. | Panasonic LX5 | 110 mm | 65 mm | 43 mm | 271 g | 400 | n | Jul 2010 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Panasonic LX100 II | 115 mm | 66 mm | 65 mm | 392 g | 300 | n | Aug 2018 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Panasonic TZ95 | 112 mm | 69 mm | 42 mm | 327 g | 380 | n | Feb 2019 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 | 131 mm | 100 mm | 77 mm | 800 g | 560 | Y | Oct 2013 | US$ 1 299 | ebay.com | |
| 15. | Pentax K-3 II | 131 mm | 100 mm | 77 mm | 800 g | 720 | Y | Apr 2015 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Pentax K-70 | 126 mm | 93 mm | 74 mm | 688 g | 410 | Y | Jun 2016 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 17. | Pentax KP | 132 mm | 101 mm | 76 mm | 703 g | 390 | Y | Jan 2017 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The TZ90 was launched at a lower price than the K-3 III, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic TZ90 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Pentax K-3 III an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the K-3 III is 1189 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the TZ90 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the K-3 III offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 25.6MP, the K-3 III offers a higher resolution than the TZ90 (20.2MP), but the K-3 III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 1.18μm for the TZ90) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the K-3 III is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 11 months) than the TZ90, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Pentax K-3 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-3 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 31 x 20.6 inches or 78.6 x 52.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.8 x 16.5 inches or 62.9 x 41.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.6 x 13.8 inches or 52.4 x 35 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic TZ90 are 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.
Unlike the TZ90, the K-3 III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (YESMP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).
The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 80-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-3 III are ISO 100 to ISO 160000 (no boost).
In terms of underlying technology, the TZ90 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the K-3 III uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic TZ90 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 19.1 | 10.6 | 106 | 36 | |
| 2. | Pentax K-3 III | APS-C | 25.6 | 6192 | 4128 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 2083 | 85 | |
| 3. | Canon M100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.5 | 12.9 | 1272 | 78 | |
| 4. | Canon SX720 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 1080/60p | 20.3 | 11.8 | 817 | 48 | |
| 5. | Canon SX730 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 1080/60p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 924 | 50 | |
| 6. | Canon SX740 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1050 | 51 | |
| 7. | Fujifilm X-H1 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.0 | 13.3 | 1806 | 82 | |
| 8. | Fujifilm XF10 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/15p | 24.0 | 13.4 | 1844 | 83 | |
| 9. | Panasonic FT7 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1028 | 51 | |
| 10. | Panasonic FZ82 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 900 | 49 | |
| 11. | Panasonic LX5 | 1/1.7 | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | 720/60p | 19.6 | 10.8 | 132 | 41 | |
| 12. | Panasonic LX100 II | Four Thirds | 16.8 | 4736 | 3552 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.7 | 979 | 72 | |
| 13. | Panasonic TZ95 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.7 | 12.2 | 1103 | 52 | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.7 | 13.4 | 1216 | 80 | |
| 15. | Pentax K-3 II | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.6 | 13.6 | 1106 | 80 | |
| 16. | Pentax K-70 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.8 | 13.1 | 1639 | 80 | |
| 17. | Pentax KP | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.9 | 13.2 | 1699 | 81 | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the TZ90 has an electronic viewfinder (1166k dots), while the K-3 III has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the K-3 III has a higher magnification than the one of the TZ90 (0.70x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic TZ90, the Pentax K-3 III, and comparable cameras.

| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic TZ90 | 1166 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 2. | Pentax K-3 III | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
| 3. | Canon M100 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.1/s | Y | n | |
| 4. | Canon SX720 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/3200s | 5.9/s | Y | Y | |
| 5. | Canon SX730 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | n | 1/3200s | 5.9/s | Y | Y | |
| 6. | Canon SX740 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | n | 1/3200s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 7. | Fujifilm X-H1 | 3690 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 14.0/s | n | Y | |
| 8. | Fujifilm XF10 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
| 9. | Panasonic FT7 | 1170 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/1300s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 10. | Panasonic FZ82 | 1166 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 11. | Panasonic LX5 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5/s | Y | Y | |
| 12. | Panasonic LX100 II | 2764 | n | 3.0 / 1240 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | n | Y | |
| 13. | Panasonic TZ95 | 2330 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1037 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3/s | Y | Y | |
| 15. | Pentax K-3 II | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1037 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3/s | n | Y | |
| 16. | Pentax K-70 | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/6000s | 6.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 17. | Pentax KP | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/6000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
| Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. | |||||||||||
One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The TZ90 has one, while the K-3 III does not. While the built-in flash of the TZ90 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.
The TZ90 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the K-3 III does not have a selfie-screen.The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the TZ90 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Pentax K-3 III has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the TZ90 and the K-3 III write their files to SDXC cards. The K-3 III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the TZ90 only has one slot. The K-3 III supports UHS-II cards (on its first slot), while the TZ90 can use UHS-I cards.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 and Pentax K-3 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic TZ90 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 2. | Pentax K-3 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 3. | Canon M100 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| 4. | Canon SX720 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| 5. | Canon SX730 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| 6. | Canon SX740 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 7. | Fujifilm X-H1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 8. | Fujifilm XF10 | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 9. | Panasonic FT7 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 10. | Panasonic FZ82 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 11. | Panasonic LX5 | Y | mono / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 12. | Panasonic LX100 II | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 13. | Panasonic TZ95 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 15. | Pentax K-3 II | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 16. | Pentax K-70 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 17. | Pentax KP | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | - | 2.0 | Y | - | - |
It is notable that the K-3 III has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The TZ90 does not feature such a mic input.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-3 III (unlike the TZ90) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the K-3 III has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.
The K-3 III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Pentax. In contrast, the TZ90 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the TZ90 was succeeded by the Panasonic TZ95. Further information on the features and operation of the TZ90 and K-3 III can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic TZ90 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-3 III Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic TZ90 or the Pentax K-3 III – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90:
- More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
- More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the K-3 III requires a separate lens.
- More compact: Is smaller (112x67mm vs 135x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the K-3 III).
- Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
- Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
- More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in April 2017).

Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-3 III:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (25.6 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 15%.
- High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
- Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
- Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
- Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.46x).
- Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (800 versus 380) out of a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
- Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
- Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
- Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
- More modern: Reflects 3 years and 11 months of technical progress since the TZ90 launch.
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the K-3 III is the clear winner of the contest (27 : 11 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic TZ90 and the Pentax K-3 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the TZ90 and the K-3 III in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic TZ90 | .. | + + | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Apr 2017 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Pentax K-3 III | 4/5 | .. | 3/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | Mar 2021 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon M100 | 3/5 | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | Aug 2017 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon SX720 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | US$ 379 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Canon SX730 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Apr 2017 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Canon SX740 | .. | + | 3.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jul 2018 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Fujifilm X-H1 | .. | + | 5/5 | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2018 | US$ 1 899 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Fujifilm XF10 | .. | .. | 4/5 | 75/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2018 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Panasonic FT7 | .. | + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | May 2018 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Panasonic FZ82 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | US$ 399 | amazon.com | |
| 11. | Panasonic LX5 | 4/5 | + | .. | 73/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2010 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Panasonic LX100 II | 4.5/5 | + | 4.2/5 | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2018 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Panasonic TZ95 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | Feb 2019 | US$ 449 | ebay.com | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 | 4/5 | .. | .. | 83/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | US$ 1 299 | ebay.com | |
| 15. | Pentax K-3 II | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2015 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Pentax K-70 | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2016 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 17. | Pentax KP | 4/5 | .. | 3/5 | 82/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||||
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check TZ90 offers at
ebay.com

Check K-3 III price at
amazon.com
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 100D vs Pentax K-3 III
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Panasonic TZ90
- Fujifilm X-T1 vs Panasonic TZ90
- Leica D-LUX 8 vs Panasonic TZ90
- Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-3 III
- Nikon D60 vs Panasonic TZ90
- Nikon Z30 vs Pentax K-3 III
- Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic TZ90
- Panasonic GH5 II vs Pentax K-3 III
- Panasonic TZ90 vs Sony A7C R
- Pentax K-3 III vs Ricoh WG-60
- Pentax K-3 III vs Sony ZV-E1
Specifications: Panasonic TZ90 vs Pentax K-3 III
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
| Camera Model | Panasonic TZ90 | Pentax K-3 III |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Digital single lens reflex |
| Camera Lens | 24-720mm f/3.3-6.4 | Pentax K mount lenses |
| Launch Date | April 2017 | March 2021 |
| Launch Price | USD 449 | USD 1,999 |
| Sensor Specs | Panasonic TZ90 | Pentax K-3 III |
| Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | APS-C Sensor |
| Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | 23.3 x 15.5 mm |
| Sensor Area | 28.0735 mm2 | 361.15 mm2 |
| Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | 28 mm |
| Crop Factor | 5.6x | 1.5x |
| Sensor Resolution | 20.2 Megapixels | 25.6 Megapixels |
| Image Resolution | 5184 x 3888 pixels | 6192 x 4128 pixels |
| Pixel Pitch | 1.18 μm | 3.76 μm |
| Pixel Density | 71.80 MP/cm2 | 7.08 MP/cm2 |
| Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
| Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
| ISO Setting | 80 - 3,200 ISO | 100 - 160,000 ISO |
| ISO Boost | 80 - 6,400 ISO | no Enhancement |
| Image Processor | Venus | PRIME V |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 36 | .. |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 19.1 | .. |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.6 | .. |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 106 | .. |
| Screen Specs | Panasonic TZ90 | Pentax K-3 III |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | Optical viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.46x | 0.70x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 1166k dots | |
| Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | Control Panel |
| LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
| Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.2inch |
| LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | 1620k dots |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Fixed screen |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
| Shooting Specs | Panasonic TZ90 | Pentax K-3 III |
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Phase-detect AF |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
| Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/2000s | 1/8000s |
| Continuous Shooting | 10 shutter flaps/s | 12 shutter flaps/s |
| Electronic Shutter | up to 1/16000s | no E-Shutter |
| Time-Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | Intervalometer built-in |
| Image Stabilization | Lens-based stabilization | In-body stabilization |
| Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | no On-Board Flash |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Dual card slots |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | Single UHS-II |
| Connectivity Specs | Panasonic TZ90 | Pentax K-3 III |
| External Flash | no Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
| Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 3.2 |
| HDMI Port | micro HDMI | micro HDMI |
| Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
| Headphone Socket | no Headphone port | Headphone port |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
| Bluetooth Support | no Bluetooth | Bluetooth built-in |
| Geotagging | no internal GPS | GPS built-in |
| Body Specs | Panasonic TZ90 | Pentax K-3 III |
| Environmental Sealing | not weather sealed | Weathersealed body |
| Battery Type | Panasonic DMW-BLG10 | Pentax D-LI90 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 380 shots per charge | 800 shots per charge |
| In-Camera Charging | USB charging | no USB charging |
| Body Dimensions |
112 x 67 x 41 mm (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.6 in) |
135 x 104 x 74 mm (5.3 x 4.1 x 2.9 in) |
| Camera Weight | 322 g (11.4 oz) | 820 g (28.9 oz) |

Check TZ90 offers at
ebay.com

Check K-3 III price at
amazon.com
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