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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF6
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax RZ18, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The GF5 was released 7 months after the RZ18 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the GF5 scores against the RZ18 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax RZ18

 GF5 RZ18 
AnnouncedApril 2012September 2011More modern by 7 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic GF5

 RZ18 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax RZ18

 GF5 RZ18 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider 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 RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax RZ18 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the GF5 vs the RZ18.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and RZ18 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The image here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and RZ18.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GF5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RZ18 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern GF5 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography advice
55
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
36
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than competition (178 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography details
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
61
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
71
lighter than competition (178g)
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography highlights
59
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
49
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging info
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging info
32
touch screen
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone port
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-05 2011-09-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 grams (0.59 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $210