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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Released October 2009
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF2
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The GF1 was manufactured 5 years before the K-50 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the GF1 grades vs the K-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax K-50

 GF1 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic GF1

 K-50 GF1 
RevealedNovember 2013October 2009Newer by 50 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-50

 GF1 K-50 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GF1 features exterior 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) and the Pentax K-50 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF1 against the K-50.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GF1 and K-50 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF1 and K-50.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-50 will offer more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged GF1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Street photography highlights
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
great high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-50 Sports photography details
44
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-50 Travel photography advice
59
good battery life (380 per charge)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
environment proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery (410 shots)
heavier than competitors (650g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography highlights
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (380 CIPA)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
25
includes face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic support
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax K-50
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-10-14 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.0
DXO Low light score 513 1120
Other
Battery life 380 photos 410 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $400 $610