• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 12,800
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Panasonic G5 advantages over Pentax K-3

  • Less expensive
    $800 vs $1150 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Lighter weight
    575g vs 1240g
    Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.70x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Pentax K-3 advantages over Panasonic G5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 1.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 560 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    203 mm vs 84 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More pixels
    24.4 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 6.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    75 vs 18 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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  • Body Only
  • Kit with 14-42mm Lens
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Buy the Pentax K-3
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  • Body Only
  • Kit with 18-135mm Lens
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Review Excerpt

  • Small, compact body with excellent focusing and exposure capabilities; Newly enhanced touchpanel LCD screen makes image capture and review a joy; Excellent HD video recording quality.

  • Some controls difficult to access; Too easy to activate menus and options while shooting; Lack of a microphone-in jack limits video recording usefulness.

  • Read our Panasonic G5 Review

  • Top-notch image quality; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Unique on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots; Optional Wi-Fi remote control

  • AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a DSLR; Rather dated-looking menu system; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors; Less third-party support than some rivals

  • Read our Pentax K-3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic G2

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G2
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • More dots on screen
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G2

Pentax K-3
Panasonic G2
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Panasonic G2

Compared to Nikon D7100

Panasonic G5
Nikon D7100
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7100
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Panasonic G6

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G6
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G6

Pentax K-3
Panasonic G6
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Panasonic G6

Compared to Nikon D7200

Panasonic G5
Nikon D7200
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1097
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3
Nikon D7200
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1097
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Panasonic G7

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G7
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • $498
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G7

Pentax K-3
Panasonic G7
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $498
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Panasonic G7

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