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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF5
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The GF3 was launched 6 months later than the S1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short overview of how the GF3 grades against the S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax S1

 GF3 S1 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Panasonic GF3

 S1 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax S1

 GF3 S1 
IntroducedAugust 2011March 2011Same generation
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF3 provides outside measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax S1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the GF3 against the S1.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and S1 is 90 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The visual here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GF3 and S1.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF3 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax S1 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax S1 Portrait photography highlights
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
35
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF3
Street photography with Pentax S1
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography advice
Pentax S1 Sports photography advice
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography advice
Pentax S1 Travel photography advice
58
comes with touch focus
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
64
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
42
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax S1 as a Vlogging camera
32
touch screen
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone jack
28
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax Optio S1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-08-11 2011-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
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) 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
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 gr (0.58 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $360 $174