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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 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
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The GF5 was released 6 months before the K-30 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GF5 matches up against the K-30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-30

 GF5 K-30 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GF5

 K-30 GF5 
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-30

 GF5 K-30 
LaunchedApril 2012October 2012Same generation
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF5 enjoys external dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the GF5 vs the K-30.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and K-30 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and K-30.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-30 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Travel photography highlights
61
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery (410 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
59
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
32
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-04-05 2012-10-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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 Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267g (0.59 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 13.0
DXO Low light score 573 1129
Other
Battery life 360 photos 410 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $600 $525