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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH2
  • New Model is Panasonic GH4
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced January 2006
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The GH3 was unveiled 6 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the GH3 grades against the ist DL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax ist DL2

 GH3 ist DL2 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2006Fresher by 81 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution614k210kClearer display (+404k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic GH3

 ist DL2 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax ist DL2

 GH3 ist DL2 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH3 comes with external 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 ist DL2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the GH3 and the ist DL2.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and ist DL2 is 66 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by researching specifications. The visual here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the GH3 and ist DL2.

To sum up, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH3 having a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic GH3 will provide you with more detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher GH3 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH3
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
50
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Street photography camera
65
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch focus
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (550g)
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
63
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery (540 shots)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography advice
71
good battery (540 per charge)
environment proof
supports touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (550 grams)
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography details
71
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
good battery (540 shots)
lack of image stabilization
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
65
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (550 grams)
22
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax ist DL2
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-09-17 2006-01-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 5
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 614 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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 -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 gr (1.21 lb) 565 gr (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 65
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.1
DXO Low light rating 812 639
Other
Battery life 540 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots One One
Cost at release $799 -