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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Successor is Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5, one being 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-5 (16MP) is fairly close but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The GH3 was revealed 22 months later than the K-5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the GH3 scores against the K-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-5

 GH3 K-5 
RevealedSeptember 2012December 2010More recent by 22 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GH3

 K-5 GH3 
Display resolution921k614kCrisper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-5

 GH3 K-5 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GH3 offers external dimensions 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-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the GH3 against the K-5.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GH3 and K-5 is 66 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and K-5.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same MP but different sensor measurements. The GH3 comes with the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field harder. The more recent GH3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 Street photography advice
65
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (550g)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
63
max fps high (20.0 frames per second)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH3
Travel photography with Pentax K-5
71
better than average battery life (540 CIPA)
environment sealing
comes with touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competition in class (550 grams)
65
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography information
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery life (540 shots)
does not have image stabilization
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-5 Vlogging details
65
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (550 grams)
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-5
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-09-17 2010-12-18
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD Prime II
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 gr (1.21 lbs) 740 gr (1.63 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 812 1162
Other
Battery life 540 photos 980 photos
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 recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $799 $800