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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Updated by Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic GH3 versus Pentax K-S2, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is relatively comparable but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The GH3 was manufactured 3 years prior to the K-S2 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the GH3 grades vs the K-S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-S2

 GH3 K-S2 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GH3

 K-S2 GH3 
IntroducedFebruary 2015September 2012Newer by 29 months
Screen resolution921k614kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-S2

 GH3 K-S2 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera, you should think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 provides outer 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) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has sizing of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH3 versus Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the GH3 compared to the K-S2.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GH3 and K-S2 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and K-S2.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-S2 will provide more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GH3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
78
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH3
Street photography with Pentax K-S2
65
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus by touch
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550g)
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than average (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Sports photography camera
63
max frames per second high (20.0 fps)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Travel photography camera
71
better than average battery life (540 shots)
environment sealing
supports focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
65
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (410 shots)
more heavy than average (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging highlights
65
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550g)
71
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
more heavy than average (678g)
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-S2
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-09-17 2015-02-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 614 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 grams (1.21 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 812 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 410 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $581