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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Released September 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH2
  • Successor is Panasonic GH4
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

The following is a extensive review of the Panasonic GH3 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") have different sensor size.

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The GH3 was announced 9 months prior to the MX-1 so they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the GH3 matches up versus the MX-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax MX-1

 GH3 MX-1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic GH3

 MX-1 GH3 
RevealedJuly 2013September 2012Newer by 9 months
Display resolution920k614kCrisper display (+306k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax MX-1

 GH3 MX-1 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 comes with physical dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH3 versus Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the GH3 against the MX-1.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and MX-1 is 66 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specifications. The picture below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and MX-1.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic GH3 will provide more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged GH3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
42
manual focus
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH3
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
65
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment proofing
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550 grams)
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
very small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
63
high max frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH3
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
71
better than average battery (540 per charge)
environment proofing
supports focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than competition (550g)
61
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (391g)
low MP (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
better than average battery (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
65
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550 grams)
33
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition in class (391 grams)
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax MX-1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-09-17 2013-07-01
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lbs) 391 grams (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 49
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 812 208
Other
Battery life 540 photos 290 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $799 $400