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Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic G2
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

The following is a detailed comparison of the Panasonic G1 and Pentax K-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the G1 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the G1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The G1 was revealed 6 years before the K-3 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the G1 grades versus the K-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Pentax K-3

 G1 K-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic G1

 K-3 G1 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2009Newer by 63 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G1 and Pentax K-3

 G1 K-3 
Focus manually More precise focus
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G1 provides exterior dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic G1 and Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the G1 and the K-3.

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G1 and K-3 is 82 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the G1 and K-3.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The G1 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will produce more detail because of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged G1 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
57
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
79
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic G1
Street photography with Pentax K-3
72
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G1
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
33
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect auto focus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (560 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G1 Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 Travel photography features
62
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
60
environment proof
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery life (560 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic G1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
57
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
no Timelapse recording
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery life (560 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic G1
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
18
no video
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G1 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Pentax K-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-01-19 2014-04-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 360g (0.79 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 53 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.4
DXO Low light rating 463 1216
Other
Battery life 330 shots 560 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Retail cost $0 $639