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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF5
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Pentax K-1
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-1 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GF3 was manufactured 7 years prior to the K-1 II and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the GF3 grades vs the K-1 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax K-1 II

 GF3 K-1 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Panasonic GF3

 K-1 II GF3 
IntroducedFebruary 2018August 2011More recent by 79 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-1 II

 GF3 K-1 II 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF3 offers external measurements 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 K-1 II has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-1 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF3 compared to the K-1 II.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and K-1 II is 90 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The visual below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and K-1 II.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF3 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-1 II will produce more detail due to its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older GF3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography features
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
86
manual focus
high sensor resolution (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Street photography advice
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
above average high ISO (819,200)
more heavy than competitors (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography advice
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
77
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
low battery power (670 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Travel photography camera
58
provides touch to focus
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
low battery pack (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
53
environment proofing
high sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
low battery power (670 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1 II
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
82
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high sensor resolution (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
low battery power (670 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Pentax K-1 II
32
touchscreen
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-1 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-08-11 2018-02-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 6400 819200
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,037k dots
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 - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264g (0.58 pounds) 1010g (2.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 670 pictures
Style 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 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One Two
Cost at launch $360 $1,737