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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH4
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Updated by Pentax Q10
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and Q (12MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was launched 16 months after the Q making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the GH3 matches up against the Q in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax Q

 GH3 Q 
RevealedSeptember 2012June 2011Newer by 16 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution614k460kClearer display (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Panasonic GH3

 Q GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax Q

 GH3 Q 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GH3 features 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 Q has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the GH3 compared to the Q.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and Q is 66 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GH3 and Q.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GH3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic GH3 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The younger GH3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography details
Pentax Q Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
45
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography information
Pentax Q Street photography information
65
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (550 grams)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q as a Sports photography camera
63
high max fps (20.0 frames/s)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography details
Pentax Q Travel photography details
71
better than average battery power (540 shots)
weather sealing
provides focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than competitors in class (550 grams)
57
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q as a Landscape photography camera
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
better than average battery power (540 shots)
lack of image stabilization
51
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Pentax Q
65
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic jack
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (550 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax Q
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax Q
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax Q
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-09-17 2011-06-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/2000 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 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550g (1.21 pounds) 180g (0.40 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 47
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.1
DXO Low light rating 812 189
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 230 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $799 $695