Updated (May, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 vs Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

55

Winner

Pentax K-r

"The K-r produces, in almost any shooting situation, output that is virtually identical to the K-x's."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-r's image-quality
"The Pentax K-r offers excellent control over high ISO noise reduction."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-r's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-r

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.4 EV
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

35

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
Light-weight
416 g

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 416 g vs 598 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2

Advantages of the Pentax K-r

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 53.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.4 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.9 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.7 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The K-r's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Lens availability More lenses available 90 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
3.3x less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 2.6 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 755 ISO vs 493 ISO
Help
The K-r has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 105 ms vs 423 ms
Help
4x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Battery life Longer battery life 470 shots vs 390 shots
Help
More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.7" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-r Learn more about
the Pentax K-r
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
35 vs 55
Explain scores
Pentax K-r Pentax K-r
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-r. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Panasonic DMC-G2 or the Pentax K-r,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Steve-Nickols last month
Panasonic DMC-FZ45 vs Panasonic DMC-G2

Beginner looking for good quality photos with hd video capability, easy to use settings and a view...

0
votes
by Heather-and-Bree-Johnson this month
Canon T3i vs Pentax K-r

for sporting events, landscape, portraits

One person recommends the Pentax K-r:

" amazing image + microphone + video quality. never ending options in camera menus ===== i'm a k-x..."

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" with canon t3i you get 720p x 60frames (slow it down to 30 frames to get smooth effect of slow m..."

0
votes
by Nina-Fadzwi this month
Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r

I am juz a beginner. I prefer easy to use and friendly user. Need for taking photos on low light...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" One thing most amateurs fail to realize (or yet to have anyone pointing out to them) is that the..."

0
votes
by Peter-defib-Noakes last month
Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r

Moving up from a compact. Would like improved image quality & control. Experience of using SLR's...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
DMC-G2:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
K-r:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
DMC-G2:Digital
K-r:Pentamirror
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
DMC-G2:1/4000s
K-r:1/6000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
DMC-G2:60s
K-r:30s
Thickness Quite thick Help
DMC-G2:2.9"
K-r:2.7"
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-G2:416 g
K-r:598 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
DMC-G2:124x90x74 mm
K-r:125x97x68 mm
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
DMC-G2:720p @ 30fps
K-r:720p @ 25fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Weight Is slightly heavier
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Samsung NX11

Samsung NX11

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$619 - $725 with 18-55mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

Pentax K-r Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

Entry-level DSLR

$675 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Slightly smaller
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Slightly larger
Weight Heavier

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Pentax K-r
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Pentax K-r
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Pentax K-r

discussion

Showing 0 comments