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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Superseded the Panasonic GM1
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-3 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the GM5 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the GM5 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GM5 was announced 7 months before the K-3 II which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the GM5 grades versus the K-3 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Pentax K-3 II

 GM5 K-3 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic GM5

 K-3 II GM5 
IntroducedApril 2015September 2014More recent by 7 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-3 II

 GM5 K-3 II 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GM5 comes with physical measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the GM5 and the K-3 II.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GM5 and K-3 II is 91 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GM5 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GM5 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will produce more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older GM5 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Street photography details
Pentax K-3 II Street photography details
76
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus by touch
lighter than competitors (211g)
great ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography info
48
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GM5
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
71
lighter than competitors (211g)
supports focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
56
weather proofing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
low battery (720 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GM5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
69
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (220 shots)
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
low battery (720 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GM5
Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
34
touchscreen enabled
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (211 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Pentax K-3 II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-09-15 2015-04-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/8000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per sec 8.3 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 211 gr (0.47 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 13.6
DXO Low light score 721 1106
Other
Battery life 220 shots 720 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLH7 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Two
Retail price $966 $829