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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Successor is Panasonic GF3
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF2 was brought out 4 years prior to the K-3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the GF2 matches up against the K-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax K-3

 GF2 K-3 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic GF2

 K-3 GF2 
IntroducedApril 2014February 2011More recent by 38 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-3

 GF2 K-3 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF2 has got physical dimensions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the GF2 compared to the K-3.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and K-3 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF2 and K-3.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF2 because of its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will deliver greater detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older GF2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
79
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography information
Pentax K-3 Street photography information
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
no image stabilization
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (560 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 Travel photography info
52
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (560 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography highlights
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
not so great battery pack (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
32
touchscreen functionality
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no microphone socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax K-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-02-24 2014-04-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310g (0.68 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.4
DXO Low light rating 506 1216
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 560 pictures
Battery type 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 2
Launch cost $330 $639