Panasonic GX7 vs Pentax K-3

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Panasonic GX7 vs Pentax K-3

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GX7 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the GX7.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3.
Compare Pentax K-3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic GX85
Compare GX7 vs GX85

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II

Compare PANASONIC GX85 vs PENTAX K-3 II

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Differences

Panasonic GX7 advantages over Pentax K-3

Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Thinner
54 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/320 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
532g 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
Faster JPEG shooting
10.7 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 75 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Pentax K-3 advantages over Panasonic GX7

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K-3 test data on DxO Mark GX7 test data on DxO Mark

1,216 vs 718 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

560 vs 350 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
More pixels
24.4 vs 16.0 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
Bigger RAW buffer
24 vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read GX7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

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Buy the Panasonic GX7

Kit with 14-42mm Lens

Kit with 14-42mm Lens
Body Only

All GX7 Deals

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Buy the Pentax K-3

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens

All K-3 Deals

Review Excerpt

Sharp retro design and solid build; High resolution, tiltable electronic viewfinder and LCD touchscreen monitor; Competitive still image quality; Very good video quality, recording Full HD at frame rates up to 60p; Fast autofocusing and all-around performance; Robust Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities, including remote shooting when paired with a smart device
Weak built-in flash; No external mic or headphone jack for video recording; Some poor results when shooting in Creative Panorama mode
Read our Panasonic GX7 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 Olympus E-M5

Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5

$648
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$900
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Olympus E-M5

Pentax K-3

Olympus E-M5

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$900
4/3

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Nikon D7100

Panasonic GX7

Nikon D7100

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$690
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic GX7 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 Nikon D5300

Panasonic GX7

Nikon D5300

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Nikon D5300

Pentax K-3

Nikon D5300

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D5300

Compared to Olympus E-M10

Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M10

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Olympus E-M10

Pentax K-3

Olympus E-M10

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Olympus E-M10

Compared to Olympus E-M5 II

Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5 II

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
High resolution composite

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Olympus E-M5 II

Pentax K-3

Olympus E-M5 II

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II

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