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Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
72
Imaging
47
Features
60
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 428g - 124 x 84 x 74mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Panasonic G1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G3
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the G2 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the G2 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The G2 was manufactured 4 years before the K-500 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the G2 grades vs the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G2 over the Pentax K-500

 G2 K-500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic G2

 K-500 G2 
IntroducedNovember 2013July 2010More recent by 41 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-500

 G2 K-500 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic G2 comes with external measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") along with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the G2 and the K-500.

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the G2 and K-500 is 72 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The graphic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the G2 and K-500.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The G2 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-500 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older G2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic G2
Street photography with Pentax K-500
65
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (428 grams)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
good battery life (710 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
58
has touch focus
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (428 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
67
good battery life (710 shots)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
61
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
features face detect focus
has microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
more heavy than competitors (428g)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have mic support
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Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-07-12 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
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
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 11.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 428g (0.94 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 53 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 493 1087
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 710 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,000 $600