Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-3 III

Cameras
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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-3 III

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

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GX85 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GX85 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GX85.
Compare Panasonic GX85 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GX85 conclusion.

APS-C 361.2mm²
25.7 megapixels
ISO 100 - 1,600,000

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3 III.

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Differences

Panasonic GX85 advantages over Pentax K-3 III

Less expensive
$598 vs $2344
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
43 mm vs 73 mm
Thinner
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 30 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Pentax K-3 III advantages over Panasonic GX85

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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

800 vs 290 shots
Capture more photos
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
Newer
4 years vs 8 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
540k vs 347k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More viewfinder magnification
1.05x vs 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
25.7 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 None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
12.0 fps vs 10.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
1600000 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
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 GX85 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 III User Reviews

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Buy the Panasonic GX85

Kit with 12-32mm lens (Black)

Kit with 12-32mm lens (Black)
Kit with 12-32mm and 45-150mm lenses (Black)
Kit with 12-32mm lens (Silver)

All GX85 Deals

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Buy the Pentax K-3 III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 20-40mm F2.8-4 Lens
Kit with 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens

All K-3 III Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent build-quality; Good ergonomics for its size; Built-in 5-axis Dual IS, Built-in EVF; Tilting LCD touchscreen monitor; Competitive still image quality; Excellent 4K video quality; Fast autofocus and burst modes; Generous buffers; Tons of advanced features; Built-in Wi-Fi.
EVF could be better; Sluggish RAW and RAW+JPEG buffer clearing; No external mic and headphone jacks; Slow x-sync speed; Mediocre battery life.
Read our Panasonic GX85 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-3 III, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-3 III First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 II

$598
4/3

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$349
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Panasonic GX85 vs Olympus E-M10 II

Pentax K-3 III

Olympus E-M10 II

$1847
APS-C

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$349
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Olympus E-M10 II

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-PL8

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

$599
4/3

Longer stills battery life
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Panasonic GX85 vs Olympus E-PL8

Pentax K-3 III

Olympus E-PL8

$1847
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Olympus E-PL8

Compared to Pentax KP

Panasonic GX85

Pentax KP

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
High resolution composite

Compare Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 III

Pentax KP

$1847
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Pentax KP

Compared to Olympus E-PL9

Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-PL9

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$700
4/3

Built-in Bluetooth
Longer stills battery life

Compare Panasonic GX85 vs Olympus E-PL9

Pentax K-3 III

Olympus E-PL9

$1847
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Olympus E-PL9

Compared to Canon 90D

Panasonic GX85

Canon 90D

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1099
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GX85 vs Canon 90D

Pentax K-3 III

Canon 90D

$1847
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Canon 90D

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