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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched August 2005
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax ist DS2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was announced 6 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the GF3 scores versus the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax ist DS2

 GF3 ist DS2 
LaunchedAugust 2011August 2005Newer by 73 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic GF3

 ist DS2 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax ist DS2

 GF3 ist DS2 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 features exterior 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 ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax ist DS2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GF3 against the ist DS2.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and ist DS2 is 90 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specs. The pic underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and ist DS2.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Panasonic GF3 will give more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher GF3 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography information
55
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
51
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low resolution (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography information
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
39
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography features
58
provides touch to focus
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competitors (605g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
low resolution (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography factors
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
47
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
32
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
22
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution ( pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax ist DS2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-08-11 2005-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 460k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 gr (0.58 lbs) 605 gr (1.33 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
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 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $360 -