Clicky

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Updated by Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-5
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-5 II, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the K-5 II (16MP) is pretty similar but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The GH3 was announced 8 months prior to the K-5 II so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the GH3 grades vs the K-5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-5 II

 GH3 K-5 II 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic GH3

 K-5 II GH3 
AnnouncedJune 2013September 2012Fresher by 8 months
Screen resolution921k614kCrisper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-5 II

 GH3 K-5 II 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 enjoys outside dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-5 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GH3 compared to the K-5 II.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

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

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specs. The visual below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and K-5 II.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact MP albeit different sensor sizing. The GH3 contains the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow DOF more challenging. The older GH3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Street photography highlights
65
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus via touch
environment proofing
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 II
63
max frames per second high (20.0 fps)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography factors
71
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
environment proofing
features focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
65
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly display
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery power (540 shots)
lack of image stabilization
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Vlogging camera
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550g)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-5 II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-09-17 2013-06-04
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 surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
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
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 20.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest 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) 760 gr (1.68 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 Overall rating 71 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 812 1235
Other
Battery life 540 images 980 images
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $830