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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP 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
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH4
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Launched January 2017
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and KP (24MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and KP (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The GH3 was launched 5 years before the KP which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the GH3 matches up vs the KP in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax KP

 GH3 KP 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Panasonic GH3

 KP GH3 
LaunchedJanuary 2017September 2012Newer by 53 months
Screen resolution921k614kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax KP

 GH3 KP 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GH3 offers exterior 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) whilst the Pentax KP has specifications of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") along with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the GH3 and the KP.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and KP is 66 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and KP.

To sum up, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax KP will give more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GH3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography information
Pentax KP Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
80
has manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography details
Pentax KP Street photography details
65
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (550 grams)
76
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax KP as a Sports photography camera
63
high frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery power (540 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
quiet shooting (1/24,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
bad battery pack (390 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax KP as a Travel photography camera
71
good battery power (540 CIPA)
environment proof
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
more heavy than others (550g)
61
environment sealing
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (390 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography details
Pentax KP Landscape photography details
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
good battery power (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average ISO range (819,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
bad battery pack (390 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax KP as a Vlogging camera
65
selfie friendly display
touch screen
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (550 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax KP
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax KP
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax KP
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-09-17 2017-01-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII FHD PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 819200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.63x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 20.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (60i, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550g (1.21 lbs) 703g (1.55 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images 390 images
Battery type 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots One One
Retail price $799 $747