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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80

Portability
83
Imaging
52
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Pentax Optio W80 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic G2
  • New Model is Panasonic G5
Pentax W80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 156g - 100 x 56 x 25mm
  • Introduced June 2009
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Panasonic G3 and Pentax W80, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and W80 (12MP) and the G3 (Four Thirds) and W80 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The G3 was brought out 2 years later than the W80 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the G3 matches up vs the W80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Pentax W80

 G3 W80 
IntroducedJuly 2011June 2009More recent by 25 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax W80 over the Panasonic G3

 W80 G3 

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Pentax W80

 G3 W80 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic G3 has outer dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax W80 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G3 and Pentax W80 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 are utilising during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the G3 against the W80.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 and W80 is 83 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by going over specs. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G3 and W80.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The G3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic G3 will deliver extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent G3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
Portrait photography with Pentax W80
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography highlights
Pentax W80 Street photography highlights
75
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
does not have image stabilization
54
environment proof
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax W80 as a Sports photography camera
47
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (270 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
environment proof
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax W80 as a Travel photography camera
70
offers touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (270 per charge)
64
environment proof
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax W80 as a Landscape photography camera
62
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (270 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
37
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
environment proof
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging advice
Pentax W80 Vlogging advice
70
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
25
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax W80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Pentax W80
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Pentax Optio W80
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Pentax Optio W80
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-07-11 2009-06-25
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 160 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 11.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 336 gr (0.74 pounds) 156 gr (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 100 x 56 x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 667 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI78
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $500 $250