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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(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
Pentax K-1
(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
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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.

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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.

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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 
ReleasedFebruary 2016September 2012More recent by 41 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k614kCrisper screen (+423k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1

 GH3 K-1 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully 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

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

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
85
manual focus
great resolution (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography details
Pentax K-1 Street photography details
65
screen articulates
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather sealing
no image stabilization
more heavy than others (550 grams)
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
very good high ISO (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography info
Pentax K-1 Sports photography info
63
high max frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery pack (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great resolution (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.4 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-1 Travel photography details
71
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
weather sealing
features focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than others (550 grams)
53
weather proofing
great resolution (36MP)
not so great battery pack (760 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography factors
71
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery pack (540 shots)
no image stabilization
81
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great resolution (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
not so great battery pack (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-1 Vlogging details
65
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
no image stabilization
more heavy than others (550g)
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax 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