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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II 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
  • Released September 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-3
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-3 II, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was introduced 3 years before the K-3 II and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the GH3 grades against the K-3 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-3 II

 GH3 K-3 II 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic GH3

 K-3 II GH3 
IntroducedApril 2015September 2012More recent by 31 months
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k614kCrisper display (+423k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-3 II

 GH3 K-3 II 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH3 comes with exterior dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-3 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the GH3 and the K-3 II.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and K-3 II is 66 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The graphic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and K-3 II.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH3 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will give more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older GH3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
79
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Street photography factors
65
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts focus by touch
environment proofing
no image stabilization
heavier than average in class (550 grams)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
63
high max frames per second (20.0 fps)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery pack (540 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography features
71
great battery pack (540 CIPA)
environment proofing
boasts focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (550 grams)
56
weather proof
MP count good (24MP)
terrible battery (720 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography information
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
great battery pack (540 shots)
no image stabilization
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging info
65
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than average in class (550g)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-3 II
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-09-17 2015-04-23
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII 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 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 614k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 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 550 gr (1.21 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 80
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.6
DXO Low light rating 812 1106
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 720 photographs
Form 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Dual
Price at launch $799 $829