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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

The following is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was manufactured 20 months prior to the K-500 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the GF5 grades vs the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K-500

 GF5 K-500 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GF5

 K-500 GF5 
AnnouncedNovember 2013April 2012Newer by 20 months
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-500

 GF5 K-500 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF5 has got external 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-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the GF5 vs the K-500.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and K-500 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The picture underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and K-500.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-500 will resolve more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged GF5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography information
55
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
61
supports focus via touch
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
67
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography details
59
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging info
Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
32
touchscreen capability
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no external mic support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 51600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
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
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 gr (0.59 lbs) 646 gr (1.42 lbs)
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 Overall rating 50 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 13.1
DXO Low light rating 573 1087
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 710 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $600 $600