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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-30
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-50, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was introduced 20 months earlier than the K-50 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the GF5 matches up versus the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-50

 GF5 K-50 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic GF5

 K-50 GF5 
RevealedNovember 2013April 2012More recent by 20 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-50

 GF5 K-50 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GF5 offers outer dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax K-50 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the GF5 compared to the K-50.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and K-50 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The visual below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and K-50.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF5 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-50 will render greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older GF5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography information
55
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
74
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography information
Pentax K-50 Street photography information
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
heavier than competition in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Sports photography camera
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography information
Pentax K-50 Travel photography information
61
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
56
environment sealing
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery (410 shots)
heavier than competition in class (650 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography factors
59
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
32
built-in touchscreen
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone port
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than competition in class (650g)
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-50
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-50
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-05 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 51600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 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%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267 grams (0.59 pounds) 650 grams (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 1120
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 410 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $600 $610