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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF5
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax RZ18, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was introduced about the same time to the RZ18 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GF3 scores versus the RZ18 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax RZ18

 GF3 RZ18 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic GF3

 RZ18 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax RZ18

 GF3 RZ18 
RevealedAugust 2011September 2011Similar age
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 has got physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax RZ18 in our newest 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 select at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the GF3 compared to the RZ18.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and RZ18 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by going over specifications. The pic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and RZ18.

Plainly, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GF3 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax RZ18 will offer you extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
36
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography features
Pentax RZ18 Street photography features
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than average in class (178g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Sports photography camera
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF3
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
58
features focus by touch
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
71
lighter than average in class (178g)
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
32
touch screen
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing mic socket
30
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-08-11 2011-09-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 grams (0.58 lbs) 178 grams (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $360 $210