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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF2
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax K-5 II

 GF1 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic GF1

 K-5 II GF1 
LaunchedJune 2013October 2009Fresher by 44 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-5 II

 GF1 K-5 II 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

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

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography info
44
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
no phase detect auto focus
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography advice
59
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
65
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 II
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging factors
25
offers face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax K-5 II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-10-14 2013-06-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
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 options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385g (0.85 lbs) 760g (1.68 lbs)
Physical 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 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 513 1235
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 980 photographs
Battery format 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
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $830