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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF5
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is pretty similar but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF3 was brought out 23 months before the MX-1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GF3 grades versus the MX-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax MX-1

 GF3 MX-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic GF3

 MX-1 GF3 
LaunchedJuly 2013August 2011More recent by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax MX-1

 GF3 MX-1 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF3 enjoys physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the GF3 and the MX-1.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and MX-1 is 90 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and MX-1.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The GF3 features the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The older GF3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
55
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
42
you can focus manually
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Street photography advice
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
58
provides touch focus
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (300 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
61
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (391g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography info
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
32
built-in touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone port
33
rather wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (391g)
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-08-11 2013-07-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 gr (0.58 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 49
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.3
DXO Low light score 459 208
Other
Battery life 300 images 290 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $360 $400