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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Launched February 2018
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Successor is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) have different sensor measurements.

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The GX9 was manufactured 2 years after the K-1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the GX9 grades versus the K-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Pentax K-1

 GX9 K-1 
IntroducedFebruary 2018February 2016Newer by 25 months
Display resolution1240k1037kCrisper display (+203k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GX9

 K-1 GX9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax K-1

 GX9 K-1 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GX9 comes with external measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the GX9 versus the K-1.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX9 and K-1 is 82 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GX9 and K-1.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GX9 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-1 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more modern GX9 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography advice
76
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
85
manual focus
amazing megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Street photography info
Pentax K-1 Street photography info
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
70
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
good ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than average (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Sports photography camera
73
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (260 CIPA)
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (4.4 fps)
bad battery (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-1 Travel photography advice
71
has bluetooth
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (260 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
53
environment proof
amazing megapixels (36 megapixels)
bad battery (760 CIPA)
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX9
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (260 shots)
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
good ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Vlogging information
Pentax K-1 Vlogging information
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone jack
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
more heavy than average (1,010g)
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Pentax K-1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2018-02-13 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 25600 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 1,240 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,760 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 407 grams (0.90 lb) 1010 grams (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 96
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 760 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Single Two
Launch pricing $1,000 $1,499