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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Released October 2009
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF2
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The GF1 was unveiled 6 years before the K-3 II and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the GF1 matches up against the K-3 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax K-3 II

 GF1 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic GF1

 K-3 II GF1 
RevealedApril 2015October 2009More recent by 67 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-3 II

 GF1 K-3 II 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF1 offers physical measurements of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the GF1 compared to the K-3 II.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF1 and K-3 II is 85 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out specifications. The photograph below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF1 and K-3 II.

To sum up, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF1 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-3 II will show extra detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older GF1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
79
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography details
44
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography details
59
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
56
environment proof
decent megapixels (24MP)
bad battery power (720 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (380 shots)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
bad battery power (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
25
includes face detect autofocus
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax K-3 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-10-14 2015-04-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 8.3 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 gr (0.85 pounds) 800 gr (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 All around rating 54 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.6
DXO Low light rating 513 1106
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 720 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Launch price $400 $829