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Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
64
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic GF6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 323g - 111 x 65 x 38mm
  • Released April 2013
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF5
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF7
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic GF6 versus Pentax K-3 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the GF6 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the GF6 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF6 was revealed 24 months earlier than the K-3 II which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the GF6 scores against the K-3 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF6 over the Pentax K-3 II

 GF6 K-3 II 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k1037kSharper screen (+3k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic GF6

 K-3 II GF6 
RevealedApril 2015April 2013Fresher by 24 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GF6 and Pentax K-3 II

 GF6 K-3 II 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF6 features exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 323 grams (0.71 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF6 versus Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GF6 versus the K-3 II.

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the GF6 and K-3 II is 87 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing technical specs. The visual below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF6 and K-3 II.

As you can tell, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF6 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will render more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older GF6 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography details
64
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
77
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
does not have image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography highlights
51
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (720 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography advice
69
comes with touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
56
weather proof
good resolution (24 megapixels)
terrible battery life (720 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF6 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Landscape photography camera
67
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery life (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF6 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging details
32
has touchscreen
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF6 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 Pentax K-3 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-04-08 2015-04-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 1280 x 720p (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 640 x 480 (30/25fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 323 grams (0.71 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 80
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 13.6
DXO Low light rating 622 1106
Other
Battery life 340 photos 720 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $326 $829