Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1
66 Imaging
52 Features
80 Overall
63
![Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3/Panasonic-GH3-front.jpg)
![Pentax K-1 front Pentax K-1 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Pentax-K-1/Pentax-K-1-front.jpg)
55 Imaging
76 Features
82 Overall
78
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
- Introduced September 2012
- Replaced the Panasonic GH2
- Refreshed by Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
- 36MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 204800
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
- Released February 2016
- Refreshed by Pentax K-1 II
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Overview
On this page, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) have different sensor dimensions.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
The GH3 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GH3 scores against the K-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 and Pentax K-1. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic GH3 Gallery and Pentax K-1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-1
GH3 | K-1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GH3
K-1 | GH3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2016 | ![]() | September 2012 | More recent by 41 months |
Screen dimensions | 3.2" | ![]() | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 614k | Crisper screen (+423k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1
GH3 | K-1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very exact focus | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated screen |
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GH3 provides outside dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).
Check out the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the GH3 compared to the K-1.
![Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3-vs-Pentax-K-1-size-comparison.jpg)
Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and K-1 is 66 and 55 respectively.
![Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3-vs-Pentax-K-1-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The visual here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and K-1.
All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH3 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will result in greater detail having an extra 20MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively. The older GH3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.
![Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3-vs-Pentax-K-1-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder
![Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3-vs-Pentax-K-1-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 | Pentax K-1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 | Pentax K-1 |
Type | Advanced Mirrorless | Advanced DSLR |
Introduced | 2012-09-17 | 2016-02-17 |
Body design | SLR-style mirrorless | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine VII FHD | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | Full frame |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 36MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 7360 x 4912 |
Highest native ISO | 12800 | 204800 |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 33 |
Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
Number of lenses | 107 | 151 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
Display size | 3 inch | 3.2 inch |
Display resolution | 614 thousand dot | 1,037 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | OLED Monitor with static touch control | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder resolution | 1,744 thousand dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.67x | 0.7x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 20.0fps | 4.4fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 12.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | 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 |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160 seconds | 1/200 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Built-in |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 550 gr (1.21 lb) | 1010 gr (2.23 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") | 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 71 | 96 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.7 | 25.4 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.4 | 14.6 |
DXO Low light rating | 812 | 3280 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 540 photographs | 760 photographs |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | D-LI90 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) |
Storage slots | 1 | 2 |
Pricing at release | $799 | $1,499 |