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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax RS1500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF2 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is pretty close but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The GF2 was manufactured at a similar time to the RS1500 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GF2 scores vs the RS1500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Pentax RS1500

 GF2 RS1500 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic GF2

 RS1500 GF2 

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Pentax RS1500

 GF2 RS1500 
ReleasedFebruary 2011March 2011Same age
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GF2 has got outer measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF2 versus Pentax RS1500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the GF2 versus the RS1500.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and RS1500 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The pic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and RS1500.

All in all, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF2 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RS1500 will result in greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
35
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography details
Pentax RS1500 Street photography details
65
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
54
environment sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
37
MP count decent (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography factors
52
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
environment sealing
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography information
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
40
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging information
32
touchscreen capability
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic socket
25
rather wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
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Panasonic GF2 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-24 2011-03-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310 gr (0.68 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 506 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $330 $150