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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Introduced October 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF2
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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 GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Following is a complete review of the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The GF1 was announced 5 years before the K-3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GF1 scores versus the K-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax K-3

 GF1 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic GF1

 K-3 GF1 
AnnouncedApril 2014October 2009More modern by 54 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-3

 GF1 K-3 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF1 comes with physical dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the GF1 vs the K-3.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF1 and K-3 is 85 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking specifications. The picture below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF1 and K-3.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GF1 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will give you more detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged GF1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF1
Street photography with Pentax K-3
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
44
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
good battery (380 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF1
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
59
good battery (380 per charge)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
60
weather proofing
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (560 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
good battery (380 shots)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
25
has face detect autofocus
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax K-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-10-14 2014-04-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD 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 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 grams (0.85 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.4
DXO Low light score 513 1216
Other
Battery life 380 shots 560 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Dual
Price at release $400 $639