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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-30, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very well matched but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GH3 was brought out at a similar time to the K-30 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the GH3 grades versus the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-30

 GH3 K-30 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GH3

 K-30 GH3 
Display resolution921k614kSharper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-30

 GH3 K-30 
LaunchedSeptember 2012October 2012Similar generation
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 offers external dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the GH3 against the K-30.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and K-30 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by checking specifications. The picture underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and K-30.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The GH3 has got the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF tougher.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
74
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography info
Pentax K-30 Street photography info
65
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
63
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery power (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
71
great battery power (540 per charge)
weather sealing
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (550g)
60
weather proofing
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
low battery power (410 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography details
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery power (540 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
65
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone port
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-30
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 812 1129
Other
Battery life 540 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $799 $525