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Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic G2
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the G1 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the G1 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The G1 was revealed 5 years before the K-500 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the G1 grades against the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Pentax K-500

 G1 K-500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic G1

 K-500 G1 
IntroducedNovember 2013January 2009Fresher by 59 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G1 and Pentax K-500

 G1 K-500 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G1 provides physical measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the G1 versus the K-500.

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the G1 and K-500 is 82 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by seeing technical specs. The graphic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the G1 and K-500.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The G1 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-500 will provide greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older G1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G1 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography information
57
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
72
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
very good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (710 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G1
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
62
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
67
great battery (710 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
57
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video shooting
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic G1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G1 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-01-19 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 51600
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 360 gr (0.79 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 53 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 463 1087
Other
Battery life 330 images 710 images
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $600