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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Later Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The GF5 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the GF5 scores against the K-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-1

 GF5 K-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GF5

 K-1 GF5 
LaunchedFebruary 2016April 2012Fresher by 47 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k920kClearer screen (+117k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-1

 GF5 K-1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF5 comes with outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the GF5 versus the K-1.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and K-1 is 89 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and K-1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older GF5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
55
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
85
has manual focus
great MP (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography information
Pentax K-1 Street photography information
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus via touch
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
70
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
very good ISO range (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great MP (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.4 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Travel photography highlights
61
provides focus via touch
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
environment proofing
great MP (36MP)
terrible battery pack (760 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
59
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
81
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great MP (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
terrible battery pack (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-1 Vlogging factors
32
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic jack
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-04-05 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 12800 204800
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267 grams (0.59 lb) 1010 grams (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 96
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 14.6
DXO Low light score 573 3280
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 760 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Single Two
Launch pricing $600 $1,499