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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Successor is Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-1
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) boast different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was brought out 6 years before the K-1 II and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the GH3 scores against the K-1 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-1 II

 GH3 K-1 II 
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Panasonic GH3

 K-1 II GH3 
ReleasedFebruary 2018September 2012More recent by 66 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k614kCrisper display (+423k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1 II

 GH3 K-1 II 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH3 provides exterior measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 II has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the GH3 vs the K-1 II.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and K-1 II is 66 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GH3 and K-1 II.

All in all, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GH3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-1 II will offer extra detail having its extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older GH3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1 II
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
86
focusing manually
megapixel count high (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Street photography factors
65
screen can move to multiple angles
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment proofing
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550 grams)
70
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
great ISO range (819,200)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography highlights
63
high frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery life (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count high (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (4.4 fps)
low battery power (670 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography information
71
great battery life (540 per charge)
environment proofing
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (550 grams)
53
weather proofing
megapixel count high (36MP)
low battery power (670 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography factors
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great battery life (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
82
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count high (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (819,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
low battery power (670 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Pentax K-1 II
65
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic jack
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550g)
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-1 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-09-17 2018-02-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VII FHD PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 12800 819200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550 gr (1.21 lbs) 1010 gr (2.23 lbs)
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 All around score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 812 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 670 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One 2
Cost at launch $799 $1,737