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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF3
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF2 was released 3 years earlier than the K-500 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the GF2 matches up versus the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax K-500

 GF2 K-500 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GF2

 K-500 GF2 
IntroducedNovember 2013February 2011More modern by 33 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-500

 GF2 K-500 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF2 provides outside dimensions 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-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the GF2 and the K-500.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and K-500 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GF2 and K-500.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF2 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-500 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged GF2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Street photography highlights
65
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
above average ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
good battery power (710 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF2
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
52
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery life (300 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
67
good battery power (710 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
low battery life (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
32
touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no external mic support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax K-500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-24 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
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
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen 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%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest 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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 310 grams (0.68 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 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 13.1
DXO Low light score 506 1087
Other
Battery life 300 images 710 images
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $330 $600