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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic G3
  • Successor is Panasonic G6
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Panasonic G5 and Pentax K-5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the G5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was released 20 months later than the K-5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the G5 matches up versus the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Pentax K-5

 G5 K-5 
LaunchedJuly 2012December 2010More recent by 20 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic G5

 K-5 G5 
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Pentax K-5

 G5 K-5 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G5 has got outside dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") and a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G5 and Pentax K-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the G5 compared to the K-5.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the G5 and K-5 is 74 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The graphic below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the G5 and K-5.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with the identical MP albeit different sensor measurements. The G5 has the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF more difficult. The more recent G5 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 Street photography info
Pentax K-5 Street photography info
66
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (396g)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G5
Sports photography with Pentax K-5
51
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G5
Travel photography with Pentax K-5
66
provides focus by touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (396 grams)
65
weather proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
62
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (396 grams)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Pentax K-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-07-17 2010-12-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396g (0.87 lbs) 740g (1.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 61 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 14.1
DXO Low light rating 618 1162
Other
Battery life 320 photos 980 photos
Type 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 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $699 $800