Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2
90 Imaging
48 Features
48 Overall
48
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64 Imaging
63 Features
82 Overall
70
Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs
(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- Superseded the Panasonic GF2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
(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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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 & Pentax K-S2. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic GF3 Gallery & Pentax K-S2 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2015 | ![]() | August 2011 | More recent by 42 months |
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper 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 dimension | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.
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Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and K-S2 is 90 and 64 respectively.
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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.
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | Pentax 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 |