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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 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-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The GX9 was revealed 4 years later than the K-500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GX9 scores against the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Pentax K-500

 GX9 K-500 
LaunchedFebruary 2018November 2013More recent by 52 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1240k921kClearer display (+319k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GX9

 K-500 GX9 

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax K-500

 GX9 K-500 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX9 offers physical dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") and a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the GX9 against the K-500.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GX9 and K-500 is 82 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GX9 and K-500.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GX9 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GX9 will give you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The more recent GX9 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
76
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
very good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
73
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
low battery power (260 per charge)
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GX9
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
71
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
resolution is good (20MP)
has built in flash
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
67
great battery pack (710 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX9
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
low battery power (260 per charge)
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Pentax K-500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-02-13 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 51600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,240k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407 grams (0.90 lb) 646 grams (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 710 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,000 $600