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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Old Model is Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Launched April 2015
  • Older Model is Pentax K-3
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-3 II, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GX8 (20MP) and the K-3 II (24MP) is fairly comparable but the GX8 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The GX8 was introduced 3 months later than the K-3 II so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the GX8 scores versus the K-3 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax K-3 II

 GX8 K-3 II 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k1037kSharper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic GX8

 K-3 II GX8 
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-3 II

 GX8 K-3 II 
LaunchedJuly 2015April 2015Same generation
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX8 has external measurements of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has measurements 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 GX8 and Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the GX8 vs the K-3 II.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and K-3 II is 74 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The visual here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GX8 and K-3 II.

Plainly, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GX8 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-3 II will produce more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography info
75
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
80
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX8
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
bad battery pack (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (720 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GX8
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
73
environment sealing
offers focus via touch
decent MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
bad battery pack (330 per charge)
56
environment proofing
good megapixels (24MP)
bad battery pack (720 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX8
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery pack (330 shots)
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
bad battery pack (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging details
81
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax K-3 II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-07-16 2015-04-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced 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)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 487g (1.07 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 75 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 13.6
DXO Low light score 806 1106
Other
Battery life 330 images 720 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Retail price $898 $829