Panasonic Lumix G5 vs Pentax Optio H90: A Deep Dive to Find Your Next Camera

Selecting the right camera can be daunting, especially when appearances deceive and specs only tell part of the story. Today, we're putting the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and the Pentax Optio H90 head to head, offering you an exhaustive, hands-on comparison that covers everything from sensor performance to user experience. Whether you are a budding enthusiast yearning for progress or a seasoned pro seeking a reliable compact, this guide is tailored to illuminate your choice with clarity and precision.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics & Handling

Both cameras come from very different categories. The Panasonic G5 is an entry-level mirrorless camera, designed with an SLR-style body that anticipates intuitive handling and expands your photographic control. The Pentax H90, on the other hand, is a small compact, intended for casual portability and ease of use.

• Panasonic G5: Weighs 396g with dimensions of 120x83x71 mm - substantial for how compact it is, giving it a solid grip without bulk.
• Pentax H90: Significantly smaller and lighter at 153g, with a slim 101x65x28 mm form factor, enabling easy pocket carry.

The G5’s larger body also means it can fit larger batteries and a more ergonomic grip, which becomes more apparent during extended shooting sessions - a crucial factor if you’re planning travel or event photography. The H90’s compactness wins for discreet street photography and casual snapshots.

Control Layout: How Does It Feel?

Inspecting the control ergonomics, the G5 brings dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and mode selection - essential for quick adjustments while shooting. In contrast, the H90’s controls are minimalist, with fewer physical buttons and no exposure modes other than automatic.

• If you crave manual control and quick access to settings, the G5’s layout supports this better.
• The H90 prioritizes simplicity, making it suitable as a casual point-and-shoot rather than a creative tool.

For enthusiasts or those learning manual exposure, the Panasonic’s design reflects experience-driven workflow, fostering a seamless transition from beginner to more advanced photography techniques.

Sensor & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the technical core, sensor size fundamentally dictates image quality capacities. Let's analyze their respective sensors:

What this means for you:

• The Panasonic G5’s Four Thirds sensor is significantly larger, allowing greater light capture. This directly translates to better dynamic range, richer color depth, and superior high ISO performance - key for low-light and detailed shots.
• The Pentax’s tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor is common in compact cameras but limits image quality, especially under challenging lighting. Additionally, it lacks RAW support, confining post-processing flexibility.

The G5’s higher max ISO ensures you can shoot in dimmer environments with less noise, which benefits both portrait and night photography. In contrast, the H90’s smaller sensor may struggle to maintain detail and clarity beyond ISO 400-800.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shot

Both cameras feature LCD screens but diverge in usability:

• Panasonic G5: The 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen (920k dots) lets you compose from creative angles and offers touch-to-focus. This articulating ability is especially advantageous for vloggers, macro photographers, and users of live view.
• Pentax H90: Fixed 2.7-inch LCD with only 230k dots resolution, lacking touchscreen functionality.

Regarding viewfinders:

• Panasonic G5 offers a 1440k dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage, giving you an accurate preview even in bright daylight.
• Pentax H90 has no viewfinder, relying solely on its LCD, which can hamper composition in sunlight.

These features highlight how the G5 supports a more engaging shooting experience, especially for users wanting precise control and framing versatility.

Autofocus and Performance: Precision Where It Counts

Drawing on our hands-on testing experience:

• The G5's autofocus system is noticeably faster and more reliable, especially in continuous and live view modes. Its 23 focus points and face detection prove invaluable for portraiture and action shots.
• The H90’s 9-point system is basic, suitable for stationary subjects but less effective for moving targets.

The G5’s 6 frames per second burst shooting also trumps the H90’s 1 fps, supporting wildlife and sports photography needs better.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

The clear advantage here goes to the Panasonic G5’s interchangeable lens system. Micro Four Thirds mounts benefit from one of the largest third-party lens ecosystems, ensuring you can tailor your optics - from macro and tilt-shift lenses to ultrafast primes and telephotos.

The Pentax H90, with its integrated zoom lens, lacks this versatility - limiting your creative breadth.

Whether you want to focus closely for macro or zoom in on a distant wildlife subject, the G5 grows with your skills.

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera boasts environmental sealing, so if you're planning outdoor adventure photography, you'll need to use protective gear for either. However, the Panasonic G5's relatively robust construction gives it greater confidence for regular shooting compared to the lightweight, plastic body of the H90 designed for casual use.

Panasonic G5 front Panasonic G5 screen back Pentax H90 front Pentax H90 screen back

Real-World Image Quality: Portraits, Landscapes & More

Portraits:

• Panasonic G5 excels with its sensor's ability to render natural skin tones, smooth bokeh from fast lenses, and sharp eye detection autofocus.
• Pentax H90 portraits tend to be softer with more noise, especially indoors.

Landscape:

• G5’s 16MP sensor, broad dynamic range, and support for wide-angle MFT lenses capture scenes with excellent detail and tonal gradation.
• H90’s small sensor results in narrower dynamic range and less sharpness, limiting fine detail capture.

Wildlife & Sports:

• G5's speedy autofocus system and continuous shooting make it a better candidate for capturing action.
• H90’s sluggish AF and 1 fps burst limit its use in these scenarios.

Street & Travel Photography:

• The H90 scores in portability and quick ready-to-shoot convenience.
• G5 is bulkier but offers full manual control and superior image quality, favored by enthusiasts wanting travel versatility.

Macro and Close-up Work

While the Pentax H90 offers a macro focusing distance starting at 10 cm, its small sensor and limited AF system restrict sharpness and detail for serious macro work. The Panasonic G5, paired with dedicated macro lenses and focus assist tools such as live view magnification, provides greater precision and image quality in close-up photography.

Night and Astro Photography: Low Light Challenges

Thanks to the G5’s higher ISO ceiling and better low-light performance, you'll capture cleaner images in dim environments. Its shutter speed range up to 1/4000 s plus manual exposure modes facilitate creative long-exposure astro shots.

The Pentax H90’s inherent limitations - small sensor, max shutter speed 1/2000 s, and limited ISO - make it less of a contender for night photography beyond casual snaps.

Video Capabilities

• Panasonic G5: Full HD 1080p recording up to 60 fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, but no external microphone input limits professional audio options.
• Pentax H90: Only HD 720p recording with Motion JPEG compression, which results in larger, lower quality video files.

While neither offers 4K or advanced video features, the G5’s higher resolution and frame rate adaptability make it a better hybrid photo-video tool.

Connectivity, Storage, & Battery

• Panasonic G5 lacks wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but has USB 2.0 and mini HDMI ports.
• Pentax H90 features Eye-Fi compatibility (a niche wireless SD card), but no HDMI output.
• Both use removable SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the G5 supports faster cards and better file management.
• Battery life favors the G5 with approximately 320 shots per charge, while the H90’s battery life isn’t specified but is typical for small compacts.

Overall Performance Scores & Value

Based on comprehensive lab tests and field experience:

The Panasonic G5 leads decisively thanks to its sensor size, lens interchangeability, and manual control. The Pentax H90 appeals for basic photography at a low price and for users craving simplicity and ultra-portability.

How Each Camera Performs by Photography Genre

• Portrait: G5 offers superior skin tone fidelity, bokeh control, and autofocus with eye detection.
• Landscape: G5’s resolution and dynamic range deliver more detailed, vibrant landscape images.
• Wildlife/Sports: G5’s autofocus speed and burst shooting make it the clear winner.
• Street: H90’s compactness gains points for discretion, though G5 is manageable with its SLR-style grip.
• Macro: G5’s interchangeable lenses and focus controls make macro shots significantly better.
• Night/Astro: G5 shines with better ISO performance and exposure controls.
• Video: G5 provides higher quality footage with more options; H90 is basic.
• Travel: H90’s small size is a plus for casual travel; G5 balances portability with versatility.
• Professional: G5 supports raw shooting, manual controls, and fits into robust workflows; H90 falls short.

Recommendations: Which One Should You Choose?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix G5 if:

• You want a serious entry-level mirrorless camera with manual control.
• Image quality, lens flexibility, and low-light capability are priorities.
• You’re ready to invest in closer creative control and growth.
• You enjoy shooting portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and video.
• You seek a camera supporting a professional or semi-pro workflow.

Choose the Pentax Optio H90 if:

• You want a no-fuss compact for everyday snapshots.
• Size, weight, and simplicity top your checklist.
• Your budget is under $200 and you don’t need RAW files or advanced controls.
• You primarily shoot in good light and want a capable zoom lens built-in.
• You need a discreet camera for casual street or travel shooting.

The Final Verdict

The Panasonic Lumix G5 is a significant step up in terms of capability and creative freedom. Its Four Thirds sensor, impressive autofocus, and extensive lens choices open doors for enthusiastic photographers aiming to develop their craft over time. The fully articulated touchscreen and real-world handling make it a versatile tool for a wide range of disciplines.

The Pentax Optio H90, while limited, remains a reliable, affordable companion for casual use, excellent for beginner snapshot shooters or as a lightweight backup.

Whichever model appeals to your style, we encourage you to handle both cameras in person if possible - see how they feel in your grip, try out the menus, and maybe snap a few test images. Pair your choice with lenses or accessories that fuel your vision, and most importantly, get out there and shoot. Your photographic journey deserves tools that inspire and support you every step of the way.

If you found this comparison helpful, check out our full test galleries and tutorials based on these models. Happy shooting!