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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF3
  • New Model is Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-5 II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The GF5 was revealed 14 months before the K-5 II which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GF5 grades versus the K-5 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-5 II

 GF5 K-5 II 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic GF5

 K-5 II GF5 
IntroducedJune 2013April 2012Newer by 14 months
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-5 II

 GF5 K-5 II 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF5 provides 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) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-5 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the GF5 against the K-5 II.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and K-5 II is 89 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and K-5 II.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-5 II will give more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged GF5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography highlights
55
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Street photography factors
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography advice
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
61
offers focus via touch
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
weather proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 II
59
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
missing Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 II
32
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-5 II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-05 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 grams (0.59 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 pounds)
Physical 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 Overall rating 50 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 14.1
DXO Low light rating 573 1235
Other
Battery life 360 photos 980 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $600 $830