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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic G3
  • Replacement is Panasonic G6
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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Renewed by Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the G5 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the G5 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) use different sensor sizes.

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The G5 was launched 4 years before the K-1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the G5 scores against the K-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Pentax K-1

 G5 K-1 
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic G5

 K-1 G5 
IntroducedFebruary 2016July 2012More recent by 43 months
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Pentax K-1

 G5 K-1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G5 provides outer dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the G5 and the K-1.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the G5 and K-1 is 74 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the G5 and K-1.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The G5 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-1 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 20MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older G5 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
85
manual focus
sensor resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 Street photography info
Pentax K-1 Street photography info
66
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch focus
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (396 grams)
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Sports photography highlights
51
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames per second)
terrible battery life (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 Travel photography info
66
supports touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (396 grams)
53
weather proofing
sensor resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
terrible battery life (760 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography information
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is fantastic (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
terrible battery life (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 Vlogging information
Pentax K-1 Vlogging information
62
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (396g)
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Pentax K-1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Pentax K-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-07-17 2016-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 12800 204800
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 grams (0.87 lb) 1010 grams (2.23 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 61 96
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 14.6
DXO Low light rating 618 3280
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 760 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 2
Pricing at release $699 $1,499