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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Launched May 2012
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The GF5 was brought out within a month of the K-01 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the GF5 scores vs the K-01 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-01

 GF5 K-01 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Panasonic GF5

 K-01 GF5 
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-01

 GF5 K-01 
LaunchedApril 2012May 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 enjoys outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has measurements of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") and a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-01 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the GF5 versus the K-01.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and K-01 is 89 and 76 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at technical specs. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and K-01.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF5 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-01 will resolve greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-01
55
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-01 Street photography highlights
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
more heavy than competitors (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-01 Sports photography features
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow fps (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery power (540 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography info
Pentax K-01 Travel photography info
61
provides touch to focus
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
great battery power (540 CIPA)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than competitors (561g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography info
59
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (540 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-01 Vlogging factors
32
touchscreen functionality
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (561g)
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-01
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-01
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-01
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-04-05 2012-05-30
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 81
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 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 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267 gr (0.59 pounds) 561 gr (1.24 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 12.9
DXO Low light score 573 1135
Other
Battery life 360 photos 540 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $600 $899