Clicky

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic G2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G5
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-30
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-50, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is fairly close but the G3 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The G3 was brought out 3 years prior to the K-50 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the G3 grades vs the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Pentax K-50

 G3 K-50 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic G3

 K-50 G3 
RevealedNovember 2013July 2011More recent by 29 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-50

 G3 K-50 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G3 comes with external dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the G3 against the K-50.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the G3 and K-50 is 83 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The graphic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the G3 and K-50.

To sum up, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor measurements. The G3 has the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher. The older G3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
70
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography features
Pentax K-50 Street photography features
75
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
no image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
very good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than competition in class (650g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography features
Pentax K-50 Sports photography features
46
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
bad battery (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (410 shots)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
70
features touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (270 shots)
56
environment proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (650g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography advice
62
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
bad battery (270 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
bad battery power (410 per charge)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic G3
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
70
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
missing external microphone support
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (650 grams)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Pentax K-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-11 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 11.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 336 gr (0.74 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 667 1120
Other
Battery life 270 pictures 410 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $500 $610