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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
64
Features
70
Overall
66

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF5
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Later Model is Pentax K-S2
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The GF3 was launched 4 years earlier than the K-S1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the GF3 grades versus the K-S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax K-S1

 GF3 K-S1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic GF3

 K-S1 GF3 
RevealedAugust 2014August 2011More modern by 37 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S1

 GF3 K-S1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GF3 has got outside measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has specifications of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the GF3 vs the K-S1.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and K-S1 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing technical specs. The pic here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GF3 and K-S1.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF3 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S1 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged GF3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography factors
55
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
78
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography information
Pentax K-S1 Street photography information
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch focus
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (558g)
above average ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
Sports photography with Pentax K-S1
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.4 fps)
terrible battery life (410 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography factors
58
has touch focus
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (410 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Pentax K-S1
32
touchscreen enabled
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (558g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax K-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax K-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-08-11 2014-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Prime MII
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 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
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 KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264g (0.58 pounds) 558g (1.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 78
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light score 459 1061
Other
Battery life 300 shots 410 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $360 $339