Pentax K-3 II vs Panasonic G85

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax K-3 II vs Panasonic G85

Leave Feedback

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

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

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

Go in depth with our full Panasonic G85 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic G85 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G85.
Compare Panasonic G85 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic G85 conclusion.

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

Succeeded by the Panasonic G95
Compare G85 vs G95

Compare PENTAX K-3 III vs PANASONIC G95

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-3 II advantages over Panasonic G85

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
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 II test data on DxO Mark G85 test data on DxO Mark

1,106 vs 656 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
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

720 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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 None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic G85 advantages over Pentax K-3 II

Less expensive
$598 vs $830*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x 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
9.4 fps vs 8.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 60 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.6 fps vs 8.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
50 vs 22 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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 K-3 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read G85 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-3 II

Body Only (Black)

All K-3 II Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic G85

Kit with 12-60mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 12-60mm Lens (Black)
Body Only (Black)

All G85 Deals

Review Excerpt

Top-notch image quality; Spectacular detail from Pixel Shift Resolution; Better performance than K-3; Geotag images with no accessories; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Clever on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots
No built-in flash strobe; No wireless flash support out of the box; AstroTracer function can be finicky; AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a prosumer DSLR; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors
Read our Pentax K-3 II Review

Very good image quality; Very good high ISO performance and dynamic range; Fast and accurate autofocus; Excellent 4K video recording quality and features.
OLPF-less sensor is prone to moiré; Electronic viewfinder struggles in low light; Continuous autofocus is limited to 6fps shooting; Below average battery life.
Read our Panasonic G85 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon T6i

Pentax K-3 II

Canon T6i

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon T6i

Panasonic G85

Canon T6i

$631
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
NFC

Compare Panasonic G85 vs Canon T6i

Compared to Olympus E-M1 II

Pentax K-3 II

Olympus E-M1 II

$830
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic G85

Olympus E-M1 II

$631
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$899
4/3

High resolution composite
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic G85 vs Olympus E-M1 II

Compared to Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 II

Pentax KP

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

$999
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax KP

Panasonic G85

Pentax KP

$631
4/3

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
High resolution composite

Compare Panasonic G85 vs Pentax KP

Compared to Canon T7i

Pentax K-3 II

Canon T7i

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon T7i

Panasonic G85

Canon T7i

$631
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic G85 vs Canon T7i

Compared to Panasonic G95

Pentax K-3 II

Panasonic G95

$830
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$848
4/3

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Panasonic G95

Panasonic G85

Panasonic G95

$631
4/3

Less expensive
Bigger RAW buffer

$848
4/3

Built-in Bluetooth
Newer

Compare Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic G95

Compare Other Cameras?