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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Updated by Panasonic GF5
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-7
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax K-5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GF3 was launched 8 months later than the K-5 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the GF3 grades against the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax K-5

 GF3 K-5 
RevealedAugust 2011December 2010More recent by 8 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GF3

 K-5 GF3 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-5

 GF3 K-5 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 offers exterior dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the GF3 versus the K-5.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and K-5 is 90 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and K-5.

Clearly, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF3 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-5 will give greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent GF3 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF3
Street photography with Pentax K-5
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 Sports photography information
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Travel photography highlights
58
includes touch focus
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (300 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography highlights
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Pentax K-5
32
touchscreen enabled
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax K-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-08-11 2010-12-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Prime II
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 gr (0.58 pounds) 740 gr (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.1
DXO Low light rating 459 1162
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 980 pictures
Battery format 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $360 $800