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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Announced July 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic G2
  • Renewed by Panasonic G5
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic G3 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is pretty comparable but the G3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The G3 was released 23 months before the K-5 IIs which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the G3 grades versus the K-5 IIs with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 G3 K-5 IIs 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic G3

 K-5 IIs G3 
IntroducedJune 2013July 2011More modern by 23 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 G3 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic G3 comes with exterior measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") having a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic G3 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the G3 versus the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and K-5 IIs is 83 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The image below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G3 and K-5 IIs.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The G3 has the smaller sensor which is going to make getting bokeh more difficult. The more aged G3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
70
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography information
75
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
lack of image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography features
46
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography highlights
70
includes touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
65
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography info
62
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging advice
70
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic support
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-07-11 2013-06-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology 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 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 336g (0.74 lb) 760g (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 14.1
DXO Low light rating 667 1208
Other
Battery life 270 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $500 $749