Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic GF1 versus Pentax K-5 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GF1 was revealed 4 years earlier than the K-5 II and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the GF1 grades against the K-5 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 & Pentax K-5 II. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GF1 Gallery & Pentax K-5 II Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF1 provides external measurements of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF1 versus Pentax K-5 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF1 versus the K-5 II.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF1 and K-5 II is 85 and 60 respectively.

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by viewing specifications. The graphic here may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF1 and K-5 II.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF1 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-5 II will render greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The older GF1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.