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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was manufactured 14 months prior to the K-5 IIs making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the GF5 scores versus the K-5 IIs in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 GF5 K-5 IIs 
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 K-5 IIs GF5 
ReleasedJune 2013April 2012Fresher by 14 months
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

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

 GF5 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 provides outer 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) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the GF5 compared to the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and K-5 IIs is 89 and 60 respectively.

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

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and K-5 IIs.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF5 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-5 IIs will show extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older GF5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
55
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography highlights
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
no moving screen
no image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography highlights
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography factors
61
supports focus by touch
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
65
environment sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
59
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
saves RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging advice
32
touchscreen capability
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of microphone support
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-5 IIs
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-05 2013-06-04
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 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 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
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 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum 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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 267 gr (0.59 pounds) 760 gr (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 All around score 50 82
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 14.1
DXO Low light score 573 1208
Other
Battery life 360 shots 980 shots
Battery type 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 feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $600 $749