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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
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
  • Launched July 2013
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GF2 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively similar but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor measurements.

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The GF2 was revealed 3 years before the MX-1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GF2 grades versus the MX-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax MX-1

 GF2 MX-1 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic GF2

 MX-1 GF2 
LaunchedJuly 2013February 2011More modern by 28 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax MX-1

 GF2 MX-1 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF2 enjoys external 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 MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the GF2 vs the MX-1.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and MX-1 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GF2 and MX-1.

Plainly, the 2 cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The GF2 comes with the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged GF2 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
42
has manual focus
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography information
Pentax MX-1 Street photography information
65
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography info
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography info
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (290 shots)
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
52
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
61
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography details
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
55
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging details
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
32
touchscreen enabled
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic jack
33
pretty wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-24 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310g (0.68 pounds) 391g (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 506 208
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 290 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $330 $400