Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm vs. Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL

Camera Comparison, Reviews and Tests

Side by side comparison and review of Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm and Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL. Compare design, sensors, zoom functions, batteries and other key specifications and features to simplify the choice of your perfect digital camera. Our goal is to make it easier for you to decide on the camera that will best meet your expectations by revealing the main differences between the products.

Camera Specifications Comparison

Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm vs. Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL Comparison Chart
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Product Type Digital camera - mirrorless system Digital camera - 1080p - SLR with Live View mode, movie recording
Lens Included X VARIO 12-35mm lens DA L 18-55mm AL lens
Height 9.34 cm 9.65 cm
Width 13.29 cm 12.9 cm
Depth 8.2 cm 7 cm
Weight 470 g 590 g
Body Material Magnesium alloy Stainless steel, fibre reinforced polycarbonate
Enclosure Colour Black Black
Protection Splashproof, dust-resistant Dust-resistant
Digital Zoom 4x -
Optical Zoom 3x 3x
SENSOR Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Sensor Resolution 16.05 Megapixel 16.3 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Type Live MOS CMOS
Total Pixels 17,200,000 pixels 16,500,000 pixels
Effective Sensor Resolution 16,050,000 pixels 16,300,000 pixels
Optical Sensor Size Four Thirds (17.3 x 13.0 mm) APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm)
Sensor Dust Reduction Yes Yes
Sensor Features Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF) Dust Reduction (image sensor vibration), Special Protect (SP) coating
Image Stabiliser Optical (POWER O.I.S.) Optical (image sensor shift mechanism)
Built-in Optical Image Stabiliser - Yes
Sensors Digital level metre -
PROCESSOR Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Image Processor Venus Engine PRIME M
LENS Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Type Zoom lens - 3x zoom - 12 - 35 mm - f/2.8 Micro Four Thirds Zoom lens - 3x zoom - 18 - 55 mm - f/3.5-5.6 DA L AL Pentax KAF - zoom
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 24 - 70mm 27 - 82.5mm
Focus Adjustment Automatic, manual Automatic, manual
Min Focus Distance 25 cm 25 cm
Max View Angle 84 degree(s) 76 degree(s)
Zoom Adjustment Manual Manual
Lens Construction 9 groups / 14 elements 8 groups / 11 elements
Filter Size 58 mm 52 mm
Lens Mounting Type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Features Splashproof, aspherical lens, dustproof, Ultra High Refractive (UHR) index lens, Nano Surface coating, Ultra ED (UED) glass Aspherical lens
FOCUSING Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Auto Focus TTL contrast detection TTL contrast and phase detection
Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty 23 11
Auto Focus Features - Focus Peaking function
AE/AF Control Face-priority AF, Subject-tracking AF, Touch Area AF Face-priority AF, Subject-tracking AF
Face Detection Face Recognition Yes
VIEWFINDER Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Viewfinder Type Electronic - OLED Optical - fixed eye-level pentaprism
Viewfinder Colour Support Colour -
Viewfinder Resolution 1,744,000 pixels -
Optical Viewfinder Field Coverage 100% 100%
Optical Viewfinder Magnification 1.34x 0.92x
Optical Viewfinder Dioptric Correction Range -4 to +4 -2.5 to +1.5
Field of View Crop Factor 1.5 -
Interchangeable Focusing Screens - Yes
Features Auto eye sensor -
EXPOSURE & WHITE BALANCE Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
ISO (Max) 25600 51200
Light Sensitivity ISO 800, ISO 125, ISO 400, ISO 200, ISO 1600, ISO 6400, ISO 3200, ISO auto, ISO 12800, ISO 25600 ISO 100-51200, ISO auto (100-51200)
Exposure Metering Multi-segment, centre-weighted, spot Multi-segment, centre-weighted, spot
Exposure Metering Zones 144 77
Exposure Modes Programme, bulb, automatic, manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority Programme, bulb, automatic, manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, ISO priority, shutter & aperture priority
Shooting Programs - Landscape, portrait mode, macro, museum, surf & snow, PET, Blue Sky, food, night scene, sunset, candle, night snapshot, night scene with portrait, kids, Stage, night scene HDR, moving object, forest, backlight silhouette
Special Effects Sepia, Vivid, Custom Effect, soft focus, natural, monochrome, portrait, miniature, Cross Process, Retro, Expressive, high dynamic, High Key, Low Key, Scenery, Toy effect, Star Filter, Impressive Art, One Point Colour, Dynamic Monochrome Soft, Slim, Pastel, Colour, fisheye, natural, bright, Vibrant, Sketch, monochrome, Muted, landscape, portrait, Water Colour, miniature, Cross Process, Retro, Colour Extract, Toy camera, starburst, High contrast, Colour Invert, Bleach Bypass, Posterisation, Radiant, Reversal Film, Shading, Tone Expansion
White Balance Custom, automatic, presets Custom, automatic, presets
White Balance Presets Cloudy, Flash, daylight, shade, 2500K - 10000K (100K steps) Cloudy, tungsten light, Flash, daylight, shade, fluorescent light (cool white), fluorescent light (daylight), fluorescent light (warm white), fluorescent light (daylight white)
Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec 1/6000 sec
Min Shutter Speed 60 sec 30 sec
Exposure Compensation ±5 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps ±5 EV range, in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
Auto Exposure Bracketing 7 steps in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV steps 3 steps in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
White Balance Bracketing Yes -
X-sync Speed 1/160 sec 1/180 sec
Exposure Range EV 0-18 (ISO 100) EV 0-22 (ISO 100)
DISPLAY Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Type 3" OLED display 3" LCD display
Touch Screen Yes -
Display Format 614,000 pixels 921,000 pixels
Display Form Factor Rotating Built-in
Display Features Display brightness control, display colour control Display brightness control, display colour control
FLASH Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Camera Flash Pop-up flash Pop-up flash
Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 12 12
Flash Modes Fill-in mode, rear curtain sync, slow synchro, auto mode, flash OFF mode, red-eye reduction Fill-in mode, rear curtain sync, slow synchro, auto mode, flash OFF mode, red-eye reduction, P-TTL
Red-Eye Reduction Yes Yes
Features AF illuminator, flash +/- compensation AF illuminator, flash +/- compensation, wireless off-camera control
VIDEOGRAPHY / CAMCORDER Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Digital Video Format AVCHD, H.264, MOV H.264
Image Recording Format JPEG, RAW, RAW + JPEG, MPO JPEG, DNG (RAW) + JPEG, DNG (RAW)
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Microphone Operation Mode Stereo Mono
Microphone Features Wind noise reduction Sensitivity control
MEMORY Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Memory Card Slot SD card SD card
Supported Memory Cards SD Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDHC UHS-I Memory Card, SDXC UHS-I Memory Card SD Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card
Memory Card - 8 GB SDHC
Image Storage JPEG 4608 x 3456
JPEG 4608 x 3072
JPEG 4608 x 2592
JPEG 3264 x 2448
JPEG 3264 x 2176
JPEG 3264 x 1840
JPEG 2336 x 1752
JPEG 2336 x 1560
JPEG 1920 x 1080
JPEG 1824 x 1368 - 3D mode
JPEG 1824 x 1216 - 3D mode
JPEG 1824 x 1024 - 3D mode
JPEG 3456 x 3456
JPEG 2448 x 2448
JPEG 1744 x 1744
JPEG 1712 x 1712
RAW 4928 x 3264
JPEG 4928 x 3264
JPEG 4224 x 2816
JPEG 3456 x 2304
JPEG 2688 x 1792
Video Capture MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 25 fps - 72Mbps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 24 fps - 72Mbps
MOV - 1280 x 720 - 50 fps - 72Mbps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 50 fps - 50Mbps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 25 fps - 50Mbps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 24 fps - 50Mbps
AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 50 fps - 28Mbps
AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 24 fps - 24Mbps
AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 50 fps - 24Mbps
AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 50 fps - 17Mbps
H.264 - 1920 x 1080 - 25 fps - 20Mbps
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - 25 fps - 10Mbps
H.264 - 640 x 480 - 25 fps - 4Mbps
H.264 - 1920 x 1080 - 30 fps
H.264 - 1920 x 1080 - 25 fps
H.264 - 1920 x 1080 - 24 fps
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - 60 fps
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - 50 fps
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - 30 fps
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - 25 fps
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - 24 fps
H.264 - 640 x 480 - 30 fps
H.264 - 640 x 480 - 25 fps
H.264 - 640 x 480 - 24 fps
BATTERY AND CHARGING Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Battery Type Lithium Ion - manufacturer-specific Pentax D-Li109 Lithium Ion
Details Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1860 mAh (included) Pentax D-Li109 Li-ion rechargeable battery (included)
Battery Life Photo shooting - 540 shots Photo shooting - 480 shots (D-LI109 battery)
Photo shooting - 1250 shots (lithium AA batteries)
Playback - 4.5 hours (D-LI109 battery)
Playback - 9.3 hours (lithium AA batteries)
CONNECTIONS Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Interface Composite video/audio, HDMI, USB 2.0, IEEE 802.11b/g/n Composite video/audio, USB 2.0
Print Standard Direct print, DPOF support, Exif Print support, PictBridge support DPOF support, PRINT Image Matching
Flash Terminal Hot shoe Hot shoe
Connector Type USB 2.0
Composite video/audio output
HDMI output
Microphone
Headphones
Remote control
USB 2.0
Composite video/audio output
FEATURES Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Self-Timer Delay 10 sec, 2sec 2sec, 12sec
Continuous Shooting Speed 2 frames per second, 4 frames per second, 20 frames per second, 6 frames per second 3 frames per second, 6 frames per second
Additional Features Audio recording, built-in speaker, RGB primary colour filter, date/time stamp, digital image rotation, camera orientation detection, histogram display, AE lock, AF lock, cropping an image, resizing an image, Scene Detection Technology, 3D Noise Reduction Technology, face detection, Motion Detection Technology, Full-time Live View, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator, Multi-Frame Noise Reduction, Intelligent Auto Plus (iA+), high-speed recording, Touch Shutter technology, Light Speed AF, fast motion recording RGB primary colour filter, depth-of-field preview button, histogram display, cropping an image, resizing an image, shadow point display, interval shooting mode, highlight point display, in-camera film editing, Dynamic Range Adjustment, in-camera RAW processing, Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC), HDR image enhancement technology, Eye-Fi Card Ready, NR Slow Shutter, High ISO NR, Lens Distortion Correction, SR (Shake Reduction)
OTHERS Panasonic Lumix G DMC-GH3A + X VARIO 12-35mm Pentax K-500 + DA L 18-55mm AL
Included Accessories Lens hood, battery charger, dust cap, body cap, lens cap, shoulder strap, USB cable Battery charger, dust cap, body cap, lens cap, carrying case, shoulder strap, USB cable, eyecup, shoe cap
Software Drivers & Utilities, SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.1 SE, Loilo Super Loiloscope (Trial), Panasonic PHOTOfunSTUDIO 8.5 Premium Edition Drivers & Utilities, SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0
Max Operating Temperature 40 °C 40 °C
Min Operating Temperature 0 °C -10 °C
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