Panasonic G5 vs Pentax MX-1

Below is a complete assessment of the Panasonic G5 vs Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the G5 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the G5 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was introduced 11 months prior to the MX-1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the G5 scores versus the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and Pentax MX-1. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic G5 Gallery and Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic G5 has physical dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G5 vs Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the G5 compared to the MX-1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G5 and MX-1 is 74 and 84 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by reading specs. The graphic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the G5 and MX-1.

All in all, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G5 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic G5 will offer you greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older G5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.