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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was introduced 4 years earlier than the K-S2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the GF3 grades vs the K-S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax K-S2

 GF3 K-S2 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GF3

 K-S2 GF3 
ReleasedFebruary 2015August 2011More recent by 42 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S2

 GF3 K-S2 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 enjoys outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the GF3 versus the K-S2.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and K-S2 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and K-S2.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-S2 will offer greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older GF3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Portrait photography camera
55
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
78
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
heavier than competitors (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography details
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography information
58
provides touch to focus
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
weather sealing
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (410 shots)
heavier than competitors (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging information
32
touchscreen capability
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
71
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
heavier than competitors (678 grams)
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax K-S2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-08-11 2015-02-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact 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
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 grams (0.58 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
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 images 410 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $360 $581