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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF2
  • New Model is Panasonic GF5
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Launched March 2010
  • Later Model is Pentax 645Z
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and 645D (40MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) feature different sensor size.

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The GF3 was revealed 18 months later than the 645D which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the GF3 grades vs the 645D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax 645D

 GF3 645D 
LaunchedAugust 2011March 2010Fresher by 18 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Panasonic GF3

 645D GF3 
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax 645D

 GF3 645D 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 has got physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") and a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the GF3 versus the 645D.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and 645D is 90 and 50 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through specifications. The photograph underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and 645D.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF3 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax 645D will give you extra detail because of its extra 28MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent GF3 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
Portrait photography with Pentax 645D
55
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
77
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is amazing (40 megapixels)
big sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography factors
Pentax 645D Street photography factors
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
58
big sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography info
Pentax 645D Sports photography info
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
63
sensor resolution is amazing (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF3
Travel photography with Pentax 645D
58
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
weather proofing
sensor resolution is amazing (40 megapixels)
terrible battery (800 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
Pentax 645D Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor resolution is amazing (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have low pass filter
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
no liveview
no image stabilization
terrible battery (800 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Pentax 645D
32
touch screen
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax 645D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax 645D
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax 645D
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Launched 2011-08-11 2010-03-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 40 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 7264 x 5440
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Number of lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264g (0.58 pounds) 1480g (3.26 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 82
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 12.6
DXO Low light score 459 1262
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 800 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single 2
Cost at launch $360 $4,000