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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed February 2010
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is pretty close but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and W90 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was announced 18 months later than the W90 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the GF3 grades versus the W90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax W90

 GF3 W90 
RevealedAugust 2011February 2010More recent by 18 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Panasonic GF3

 W90 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax W90

 GF3 W90 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF3 comes with exterior 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 W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the GF3 versus the W90.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and W90 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The photograph underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and W90.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The GF3 offers the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The newer GF3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Portrait photography camera
55
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography factors
Pentax W90 Sports photography factors
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
24
environment proof
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography info
Pentax W90 Travel photography info
58
includes focus via touch
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery power (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
64
environment proof
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
MP count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography details
Pentax W90 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
37
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Pentax W90
32
screen is touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone port
25
fairly wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax W90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax Optio W90
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2011-08-11 2010-02-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 gr (0.58 lb) 164 gr (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI68
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 card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $360 $120