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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched January 2017
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic GX850 versus Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the GX850 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the GX850 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The GX850 was unveiled 2 years later than the K-3 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the GX850 grades against the K-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Pentax K-3

 GX850 K-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2017April 2014More recent by 34 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic GX850

 K-3 GX850 
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-3

 GX850 K-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GX850 provides physical dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GX850 versus Pentax K-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the GX850 vs the K-3.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX850 and K-3 is 90 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The graphic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GX850 and K-3.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX850 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will offer you greater detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The newer GX850 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
66
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
79
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX850 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX850
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
52
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/500s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (210 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
79
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
terrible battery life (210 CIPA)
60
weather proofing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery power (560 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography advice
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (210 CIPA)
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 Vlogging details
73
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
features face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 Pentax K-3
Alternate name Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9 -
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2017-01-04 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias 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
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 49 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/500s 1/8000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 80
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 13.4
DXO Low light rating 586 1216
Other
Battery life 210 pictures 560 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Cost at launch $548 $639