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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Released March 2011
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF2 (12MP) and the K-r (12MP) is fairly comparable but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF2 was revealed at a similar time to the K-r which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the GF2 scores vs the K-r with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax K-r

 GF2 K-r 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic GF2

 K-r GF2 
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-r

 GF2 K-r 
ReleasedFebruary 2011March 2011Same age
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF2 comes with physical measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has dimensions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the GF2 and the K-r.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and K-r is 88 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing technical specs. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and K-r.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The GF2 has the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
Portrait photography with Pentax K-r
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
63
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography factors
Pentax K-r Street photography factors
65
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography details
Pentax K-r Sports photography details
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (470 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography info
Pentax K-r Travel photography info
52
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
47
flash built-in
not so great battery (470 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-r Vlogging factors
32
touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
26
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax K-r
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-02-24 2011-03-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310 grams (0.68 lb) 598 grams (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.4
DXO Low light rating 506 755
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 470 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $330 $1,100