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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was brought out 16 months later than the K-5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the GF5 matches up versus the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-5

 GF5 K-5 
RevealedApril 2012December 2010Fresher by 16 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GF5

 K-5 GF5 
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-5

 GF5 K-5 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF5 comes with exterior dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the GF5 against the K-5.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and K-5 is 89 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and K-5.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-5 will give more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent GF5 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
55
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography factors
Pentax K-5 Street photography factors
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Pentax K-5
61
supports touch to focus
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
65
environment sealing
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
59
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
no Time Lapse mode
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen enabled
provides face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no mic jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-05 2010-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 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 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267g (0.59 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 82
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 14.1
DXO Low light score 573 1162
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 980 pictures
Form 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 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $800