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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Announced September 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-500, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty similar but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The GH3 was launched 14 months before the K-500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the GH3 scores against the K-500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-500

 GH3 K-500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GH3

 K-500 GH3 
LaunchedNovember 2013September 2012More recent by 14 months
Screen resolution921k614kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-500

 GH3 K-500 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH3 has outer 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) while the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the GH3 compared to the K-500.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and K-500 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and K-500.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The GH3 has got the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow DOF tougher. The older GH3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
65
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (550g)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
63
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery pack (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography features
Pentax K-500 Travel photography features
71
great battery pack (540 per charge)
environment sealing
includes focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than average (550 grams)
67
great battery (710 shots)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
great battery pack (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
65
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (550g)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-500
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-09-17 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 51600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dots 921k dots
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 Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lb) 646 grams (1.42 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 13.1
DXO Low light rating 812 1087
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 710 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
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 One One
Launch pricing $799 $600