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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G5
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the G3 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The G3 was launched 3 years prior to the K-3 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the G3 matches up against the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Pentax K-3

 G3 K-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic G3

 K-3 G3 
AnnouncedApril 2014July 2011More recent by 33 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-3

 G3 K-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic G3 features outside measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the G3 against the K-3.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and K-3 is 83 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The graphic below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 and K-3.

To sum up, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-3 will show more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older G3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
70
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography factors
Pentax K-3 Street photography factors
75
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
lack of image stabilization
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
great high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Sports photography highlights
46
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
70
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
60
environment proof
good resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (560 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
62
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
terrible battery life (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-3 Vlogging highlights
70
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
no mic port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Pentax K-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-07-11 2014-04-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
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 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 336 grams (0.74 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 13.4
DXO Low light rating 667 1216
Other
Battery life 270 photos 560 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One 2
Retail cost $500 $639