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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH4
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced December 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-x, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and K-x (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was manufactured 2 years after the K-x which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the GH3 scores against the K-x in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax K-x

 GH3 K-x 
IntroducedSeptember 2012December 2009Newer by 34 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kClearer display (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic GH3

 K-x GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-x

 GH3 K-x 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH3 has 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-x has dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-x in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the GH3 compared to the K-x.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GH3 and K-x is 66 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The image below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and K-x.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Panasonic GH3 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more modern GH3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-x Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Street photography camera
65
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (550g)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography info
Pentax K-x Sports photography info
63
max fps high (20.0 fps)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
61
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery life (1,900 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Travel photography camera
71
better than average battery life (540 shots)
environment sealing
comes with touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition (550g)
54
better than average battery life (1,900 shots)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-x Landscape photography factors
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery life (540 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
61
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (1,900 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-x Vlogging advice
65
selfie friendly display
touch screen
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (550g)
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax K-x
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-09-17 2009-12-23
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VII FHD Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 16.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550g (1.21 pounds) 580g (1.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 72
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 12.5
DXO Low light score 812 811
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 1900 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $600