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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GF2
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-7
  • Updated by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF1 was revealed 14 months before the K-5 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the GF1 matches up versus the K-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax K-5

 GF1 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GF1

 K-5 GF1 
IntroducedDecember 2010October 2009Newer by 14 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-5

 GF1 K-5 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF1 offers outer measurements of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst 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 out the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the GF1 versus the K-5.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF1 and K-5 is 85 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specifications. The picture below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GF1 and K-5.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF1 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-5 will give you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged GF1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF1
Street photography with Pentax K-5
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
44
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
59
great battery life (380 shots)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (380 CIPA)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-5 Vlogging advice
25
offers face detection focus
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax K-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-10-14 2010-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
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
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lbs) 740 grams (1.63 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 513 1162
Other
Battery life 380 images 980 images
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 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $400 $800