Panasonic GH3 vs. Pentax H90: A Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

When photographers ask me to compare cameras from radically different classes - like the Panasonic GH3, a robust advanced mirrorless camera, and the Pentax Optio H90, a budget-friendly small sensor compact - I lean on years of real-world testing to provide meaningful, practical insights. These two cameras represent distinct philosophies. One is a powerful, professional-grade tool built for speed and flexibility; the other is a portable, easy-to-use snapshot machine designed for casual shooting.

Let’s dig deep into the nuts and bolts, performance, and suitability of the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax H90. Whether you’re a landscape photographer wondering if the GH3’s sensor size justifies its heft, or a traveler debating if the lightweight H90 covers enough ground, this hands-on comparison breaks down everything you need to know.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Right out of the gate, the Panasonic Lumix GH3 announces its ambition through its hefty MFT mirrorless body - with dimensions of roughly 133x93x82mm and a weight near 550 grams, it’s not subtle. The Pentax H90, by contrast, is ultra-portable: 101x65x28mm and tipping the scale at just 153 grams, it’s designed for slipping into a pocket or a small bag.

The GH3’s SLR-style design with its pronounced grip and comprehensive control layout screams “serious camera” - something I really appreciate when shooting for hours. The buttons are solid with no wiggle, and it incorporates environmental sealing, giving photographers confidence outdoors. The H90, being a compact, uses minimal controls, favoring simplicity over customization.

If your shooting style leans toward comfort and tactile responsiveness for extended sessions, the GH3 feels like an extension of your hand. The H90 shines as a grab-and-go, no-fuss camera. Their difference in build quality is palpable – a reflection of their target users.

Design and Interface: Intuitive Controls for Professionals vs. Auto-Friendly Compact

Peering down from the top, the Panasonic’s control cluster is impressively dense yet logically placed, balancing dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, a mode dial, and dedicated record buttons. This wealth of direct access is a boon for photographers who love working fast without diving into menus.

The Pentax H90 strips controls to the basics, simplifying shooting modes and autofocus choices, which suits casual users. Notably, it does not feature an electronic viewfinder - relying solely on the 2.7-inch LCD, which is fixed and of modest resolution.

One standout advantage for the GH3 is its fully articulated 3-inch OLED monitor with static touch control - a rarity at the time. This flexibility improves composing difficult angles and video framing alike. The Pentax’s smaller fixed screen, while serviceable, limits framing versatility.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

If image quality is paramount, sensor size and technology are vital considerations. The Panasonic GH3 boasts a 17.3x13mm Four Thirds sensor with a 16-megapixel resolution. The Pentax H90, meanwhile, houses a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor, measuring a scant 6.17x4.55mm and producing 12 megapixels.

From my extensive lab testing and field experience, the implications are clear. The GH3’s larger sensor area collects significantly more light per pixel, resulting in superior dynamic range (~12.4 stops per DxOMark), better color depth, and lower noise at high ISO settings (usable up to ISO 12800, albeit with precautions). The H90’s sensor can’t match this - its small size limits low-light performance and dynamic range, often yielding flatter images with noisier shadows.

For portrait shooters, the GH3’s sensor contributes to nuanced skin tone gradation and cleaner, more natural results. The H90 can suffice for casual snapshots but will struggle under challenging lighting. In landscapes too, the GH3’s superior dynamic range preserves shadow and highlight detail better, a huge advantage when capturing scenes with bright skies and dark foliage.

LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Composing Your Shot

When composing images, the quality and flexibility of viewfinding tools matter. The GH3 features a 3-inch OLED touchscreen with 614k dots of resolution, highly detailed and responsive. Combined with a 1,744-dot electronic viewfinder offering full coverage and 0.67x magnification, the shooting experience is immersive and precise.

The H90’s fixed 2.7-inch LCD offers just 230k dots resolution and no EVF. This means bright daylight viewing and composition depend on the LCD, which can be challenging outdoors.

From practical tests, I’ve found the articulated screen on the GH3 indispensable when shooting at awkward angles or recording video. The H90’s limitations mean it’s best suited for easy, straightforward shooting situations.

Image Samples: Seeing is Believing

Theory and specs are important, but no comparison is complete without checking real image outputs. Side-by-side gallery images reveal the Panasonic GH3’s sharpness, vibrant colors, and dynamic range superiority. Noise levels remain respectable up to ISO 3200, making it versatile across scenarios.

The Pentax H90’s images are fairly decent in well-lit conditions but expect softness and visible noise once lighting dims. Autofocus can wander, notably in lower light, leading to slightly less crisp results.

Panasonic GH3 front Panasonic GH3 screen back Pentax H90 front Pentax H90 screen back

For enthusiasts craving punchy images and professional-grade output, the GH3 offers noticeably cleaner, more detailed results.

Overall Performance Ratings: The Numbers Don’t Lie

Leveraging my hands-on tests and DxOMark scores where applicable, the GH3 earns a robust overall performance score of 71, reflecting its balance of resolution, color depth, and dynamic range. The H90, unfortunately, isn’t officially tested but given sensor technologies typical of small compacts at the time, it originates from a different league.

This gap underscores the GH3’s suitability for serious work, while the H90 targets casual everyday use.

Genre-Specific Strengths: Which Camera Excels at What?

Let’s break down how each camera fares across major photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• GH3: Excels with rich skin tones, accurate color rendition, and decent background blur due to the Micro Four Thirds sensor and vast lens options offering wide apertures.
• H90: Struggles to isolate subjects due to small sensor and limited aperture; portraits tend to be flat and less flattering in detail.

Landscape Photography

• GH3: Strong dynamic range allows retaining details in shadows and highlights; environmental sealing adds reliability in adverse conditions.
• H90: Sensor limitations reduce tonal gradation; compact form is easy to carry but offers fewer manual controls and no RAW support.

Wildlife Photography

• GH3: With rapid 20 fps burst mode and precise contrast-detection autofocus over 23 points, it tracks moving animals effectively; lens ecosystem includes telephoto primes and zooms.
• H90: Single shot continuous mode and sluggish autofocus limit action capture; zoom lens provides reach but sacrificing aperture compromises shutter speed.

Sports Photography

• GH3: High framerate, custom autofocus modes, and good low-light ISO support make it viable for indoor and outdoor sports.
• H90: Minimal burst capability and no manual exposure modes curb effectiveness for fast-paced subjects.

Street Photography

• GH3: SLR-style presence may be intrusive; however, the articulating screen and silent shutter (within limits) aid discretion.
• H90: Small size and discreet operation are assets here, perfect for candid captures though image quality trades off.

Macro Photography

• GH3: Focus peaking and multiple focus points help precision; compatible with dedicated macro lenses.
• H90: Fixed lens macro focusing to 10cm helps casual close-ups but no focus bracketing or stacking.

Night / Astro Photography

• GH3: High ISO performance, long shutter speeds, and manual exposure modes enable astrophotography.
• H90: Limited ISO range and shutter speeds restricts long exposure capabilities.

Video Capabilities

• GH3: Full HD up to 60fps with quality codecs, microphone/headphone ports, articulating touchscreen, and manual control make it a formidable hybrid camera.
• H90: HD video at 720p max; rudimentary video functionality, no mic/headphone jacks.

Travel Photography

• GH3: Versatility and image quality are unbeatable but heft and battery size can be drawbacks on long trips.
• H90: Lightweight, pocketable, with decent zoom range - ideal travel companion for casual snaps.

Professional Work

• GH3: RAW file support, reliability, and workflow integration (full manual controls, fast connectivity) satisfy demanding users.
• H90: Lacks RAW, limited customization - unsuitable for pro assignments.

Autofocus System: Precision vs. Simplicity

The Panasonic GH3’s 23-point contrast-detection autofocus system, equipped with touch focus and face detection, performed admirably in my tests. It tracks moving subjects smoothly and quickly locks focus in diverse lighting conditions. Customizable autofocus modes enhance its adaptability from portraits to sports.

Conversely, the Pentax H90 provides 9 autofocus points with basic contrast-detection. While it’s responsive in daylight, low-light AF speed and accuracy are weak. This difference reflects their respective target audiences - enthusiasts vs casual users.

Build Quality and Durability: How Rough Can You Go?

The GH3 impresses with weather sealing, providing resistance to dust and light splashes - a major plus for outdoor photographers encountering unpredictable conditions. The Pentax H90, while well-built for a compact, offers no environmental protection and would need more care.

For professionals or those shooting adventure landscapes or wildlife, the GH3’s rugged chassis is a clear advantage.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Expanding Your Creative Palette

One of the GH3’s most significant advantages lies in its Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Panasonic and Olympus offer over a hundred lenses ranging from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, primes to zooms, plus third-party options. This breadth allows photographers to tailor their kit precisely, whether for portraits, macro, or wildlife.

The Pentax H90 relies on a fixed 28–140mm (5x) zoom lens with limited maximum aperture range (f/3.5–5.9). While this covers many everyday scenarios, it severely constrains creative control and image quality.

For photographers who want to invest long term or push creative boundaries, the GH3’s system flexibility is unmatched here.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Responsive

The GH3 offers a solid battery life of approximately 540 shots per charge, which aligns well with its target pro/advanced user base. USB 2.0 and HDMI ports support external image transfer and monitoring.

The Pentax H90’s battery life is less clearly documented, and it uses a proprietary D-LI68 battery. With a slower processor and smaller sensor, batteries tend to last decently but less optimized for extended shoots. Storage is limited to a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with internal memory fallback.

If you’re shooting long projects, the GH3’s larger battery and professional port options promote workflow efficiency.

Connectivity: Staying Connected in the Digital Age

Wireless connectivity on the GH3 is built-in (Wi-Fi), enabling remote control and image transfer - essential for modern photographers on the move. The H90 supports Eye-Fi wireless cards but lacks Bluetooth or NFC, limiting ease of image sharing.

Professional shooters will find the GH3’s connectivity options indispensable; casual users may find the H90’s simple solution adequate.

Value Analysis: Pricing and Who Should Buy What

At launch, the Panasonic GH3 came with a price tag around $799 - positioning it as a serious investment for enthusiasts and professionals seeking robust performance and flexibility.

The Pentax H90, at about $150, targets budget-conscious consumers wanting convenience over customization.

So, who should consider these cameras?

Final Thoughts: The Verdict After Hours of Testing

My extensive hands-on evaluation confirms that the Panasonic Lumix GH3 remains a formidable tool even years after its introduction. It impresses with superior image quality, versatile controls, professional-grade features, and an expansive lens system. Its weaknesses are mainly in size and weight, which can be a burden for casual users.

The Pentax Optio H90 shines as a compact point-and-shoot for those valuing simplicity, pocketability, and affordability. It excels when light conditions are favorable and the user prioritizes ease of use over customization or optical performance.

In a nutshell: If image quality, control, and performance matter deeply - especially across diverse photography genres including portrait, landscape, wildlife, and video - the Panasonic GH3 is a clear winner. If your goal is a minimalist, easy-to-carry camera for snapshots and travel photos within a tight budget, the Pentax H90 fits the bill nicely.

Summary of Key Differences

If you're standing at the crossroads between these two very different cameras, I hope this thorough breakdown helps you anchor your choice on practical knowledge, not marketing guesswork.

Keep shooting smartly and enjoy making images that inspire.