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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF3
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Successor is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax K-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) offer different sensor sizes.

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The GF2 was launched 6 years before the K-1 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the GF2 scores against the K-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax K-1

 GF2 K-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GF2

 K-1 GF2 
IntroducedFebruary 2016February 2011Fresher by 60 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-1

 GF2 K-1 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF2 has exterior measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax K-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the GF2 vs the K-1.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GF2 and K-1 is 88 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and K-1.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF2 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-1 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The older GF2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
85
has manual focus
amazing megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography factors
Pentax K-1 Street photography factors
65
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
70
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography information
Pentax K-1 Sports photography information
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.4 frames/s)
not so great battery (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
52
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (300 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
53
weather sealing
amazing megapixels (36 megapixels)
not so great battery (760 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (1,010g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
81
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
Pentax K-1 Vlogging information
32
touchscreen
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external mic socket
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax K-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-02-24 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 310 gr (0.68 lbs) 1010 gr (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 96
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 14.6
DXO Low light score 506 3280
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 760 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 1 Two
Pricing at launch $330 $1,499