Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax P80

Below, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax P80, former being 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 P80 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The GF2 was announced 19 months later than the P80 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the GF2 matches up vs the P80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 & Pentax Optio P80. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic GF2 Gallery & Pentax P80 Gallery.

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF2 has got exterior dimensions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) while the Pentax P80 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax P80 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the GF2 against the P80.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF2 and P80 is 88 and 95 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF2 and P80.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The GF2 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The newer GF2 should have an advantage in sensor tech.