Clicky

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Successor is Panasonic GF3
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The GF2 was released 3 months later than the K-5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the GF2 grades vs the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax K-5

 GF2 K-5 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GF2

 K-5 GF2 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-5

 GF2 K-5 
LaunchedFebruary 2011December 2010Similar generation
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF2 features exterior measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the GF2 against the K-5.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GF2 and K-5 is 88 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by going over specifications. The visual underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF2 and K-5.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF2 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-5 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography features
Pentax K-5 Street photography features
65
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
no articulating screen
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF2
Sports photography with Pentax K-5
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 Travel photography information
52
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (300 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
65
weather sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly screen
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography advice
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery life (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF2
Vlogging with Pentax K-5
32
touchscreen enabled
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have external mic socket
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax K-5
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax K-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-02-24 2010-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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 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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 310g (0.68 lbs) 740g (1.63 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light score 506 1162
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 980 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $330 $800