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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was revealed 15 months earlier than the MX-1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GF5 grades vs the MX-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax MX-1

 GF5 MX-1 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic GF5

 MX-1 GF5 
AnnouncedJuly 2013April 2012More modern by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax MX-1

 GF5 MX-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution920k920kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you are going to 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) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the GF5 and the MX-1.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and MX-1 is 89 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading through technical specs. The picture here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and MX-1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The GF5 has the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The more aged GF5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
42
manual focus
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF5
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features touch focus
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
41
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (290 shots)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography details
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography details
61
features touch focus
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
61
better than average battery life (290 shots)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
59
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
33
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-04-05 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267g (0.59 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 49
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 11.3
DXO Low light score 573 208
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 290 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $400