Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-3 II

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-3 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the GX850 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the GX850 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The GX850 was brought out 21 months later than the K-3 II which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the GX850 grades versus the K-3 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 and Pentax K-3 II. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic GX850 Gallery and Pentax K-3 II Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX850 has got outside dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the GX850 compared to the K-3 II.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GX850 and K-3 II is 90 and 59 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GX850 and K-3 II.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GX850 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will produce extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger GX850 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.