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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Announced October 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GF2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic GF1 versus Pentax MX-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF1 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the GF1 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF1 was released 4 years earlier than the MX-1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the GF1 grades against the MX-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax MX-1

 GF1 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic GF1

 MX-1 GF1 
IntroducedJuly 2013October 2009Fresher by 45 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax MX-1

 GF1 MX-1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF1 provides exterior measurements of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF1 versus Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the GF1 and the MX-1.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF1 and MX-1 is 85 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GF1 and MX-1.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The GF1 includes the bigger sensor which is going to make getting bokeh simpler. The older GF1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography information
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
42
focusing manually
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF1
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
44
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
good battery life (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
good battery life (290 CIPA)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
59
good battery life (380 shots)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
61
good battery life (290 shots)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (391g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography features
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (380 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
55
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging highlights
25
features face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
33
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-10-14 2013-07-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lb) 391 grams (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 49
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.3
DXO Low light score 513 208
Other
Battery life 380 shots 290 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $400