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Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Announced January 2018
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Panasonic GH5S versus Pentax RZ18, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the GH5S (10MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the GH5S (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The GH5S was released 6 years later than the RZ18 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GH5S grades vs the RZ18 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Pentax RZ18

 GH5S RZ18 
IntroducedJanuary 2018September 2011More recent by 77 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k460kCrisper display (+1160k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic GH5S

 RZ18 GH5S 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5S and Pentax RZ18

 GH5S RZ18 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH5S has got external dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH5S versus Pentax RZ18 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the GH5S vs the RZ18.

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH5S and RZ18 is 62 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH5S and RZ18.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH5S due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax RZ18 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger GH5S is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Portrait photography info
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography info
62
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
36
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH5S
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
68
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
56
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Travel photography features
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
61
weather proof
supports bluetooth
comes with touch focus
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
71
lighter than average in class (178g)
environment proof
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Landscape photography details
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
63
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
missing Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH5S
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
68
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (178g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic GH5S vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5S and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5SPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2018-01-08 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine 10 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3680 x 2760 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 51200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,620k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 660g (1.46 lbs) 178g (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 440 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Two One
Retail price $2,498 $210