Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-3

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and Pentax K-3. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic G1 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.