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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Updated by Panasonic GF5
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was announced 14 months before the K-30 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the GF3 matches up against the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax K-30

 GF3 K-30 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GF3

 K-30 GF3 
LaunchedOctober 2012August 2011Fresher by 14 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-30

 GF3 K-30 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF3 offers external dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the GF3 versus the K-30.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and K-30 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by researching specs. The graphic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and K-30.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF3 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-30 will provide you with more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older GF3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
bad battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
58
has focus by touch
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery (410 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery (410 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-30 Vlogging highlights
32
touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-08-11 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 gr (0.58 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light score 459 1129
Other
Battery life 300 images 410 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $360 $525