• 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 II

  • Less expensive
    $550 vs $830*
    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
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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 II 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
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 720 vs 310 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
  • 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
    8.1 fps vs 6.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    60 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
  • 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
  • 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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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; 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

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Panasonic G5
Panasonic GH3
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Higher-res screen
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic GH3

Pentax K-3 II
Panasonic GH3
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Panasonic GH3

Compared to Panasonic G6

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G6
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G6

Pentax K-3 II
Panasonic G6
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Panasonic G6

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Panasonic G5
Olympus E-M1
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Internal flash
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Olympus E-M1

Pentax K-3 II
Olympus E-M1
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • High resolution composite
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Canon T6i

Panasonic G5
Canon T6i
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Canon T6i

Pentax K-3 II
Canon T6i
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 II vs Canon T6i

Compared to Pentax KP

Panasonic G5
Pentax KP
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic G5 vs 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

Compare Other Cameras?