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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • New Model is Panasonic GF6
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Succeeded the Pentax K10D
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K20D, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the K20D (15MP) is fairly comparable but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GF5 was manufactured 3 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the GF5 scores against the K20D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax K20D

 GF5 K20D 
ReleasedApril 2012June 2008Fresher by 46 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Panasonic GF5

 K20D GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K20D

 GF5 K20D 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 features physical 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 K20D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K20D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the GF5 and the K20D.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and K20D is 89 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and K20D.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF5 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K20D will provide more detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher GF5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K20D Portrait photography factors
55
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
71
manual focus
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography features
Pentax K20D Street photography features
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Sports photography camera
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have phase detect autofocus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Pentax K20D
61
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
64
weather sealing
resolution is good (15MP)
has built in flash
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Pentax K20D
59
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
lack of Timelapse function
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is small (2.7 inch)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
Pentax K20D Vlogging features
32
screen is touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax K20D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax K20D
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax K20D
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-05 2008-06-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
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, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267g (0.59 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 65
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 11.1
DXO Low light rating 573 639
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $700