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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic G2
  • Replacement is Panasonic G5
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced August 2005
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Panasonic G3 versus Pentax ist DS2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the G3 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The G3 was unveiled 5 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the G3 grades against the ist DS2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Pentax ist DS2

 G3 ist DS2 
IntroducedJuly 2011August 2005More modern by 72 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kSharper display (+250k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic G3

 ist DS2 G3 

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Pentax ist DS2

 G3 ist DS2 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G3 provides outside dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G3 versus Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the G3 vs the ist DS2.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and ist DS2 is 83 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G3 and ist DS2.

As you have seen, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G3 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic G3 will give you extra detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The fresher G3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
70
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
50
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography factors
75
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
no image stabilization
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (605g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography details
46
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (270 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography info
70
offers touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (270 shots)
52
lighter than competition in class (605g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
62
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery (270 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
46
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
70
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
22
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video ( pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic G3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Pentax ist DS2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-07-11 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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)) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 336 grams (0.74 pounds) 605 grams (1.33 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 667 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $500 -