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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 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
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH4
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Launched September 2009
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and E85 (12MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and E85 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The GH3 was revealed 3 years after the E85 which is quite a serious 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 E85 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the GH3 grades vs the E85 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax E85

 GH3 E85 
LaunchedSeptember 2012September 2009Newer by 37 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Panasonic GH3

 E85 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax E85

 GH3 E85 

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 provides physical measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Pentax E85 has sizing of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the GH3 against the E85.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and E85 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The pic below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH3 and E85.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 using its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic GH3 will give you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer GH3 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax E85 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Street photography camera
65
screen articulates fully
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather proof
no image stabilization
heavier than average (550 grams)
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography info
Pentax E85 Sports photography info
63
max frames per second high (20.0 fps)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery life (540 CIPA)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
17
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography features
Pentax E85 Travel photography features
71
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
weather proof
boasts touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
heavier than average (550 grams)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography details
Pentax E85 Landscape photography details
71
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
23
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax E85 as a Vlogging camera
65
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic support
no image stabilization
heavier than average (550g)
22
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax E85
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax Optio E85
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax Optio E85
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-09-17 2009-09-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-96mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 614k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 gr (1.21 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $799 $0