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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Here is a in depth comparison of the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax WG-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was launched 15 months later than the WG-1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the GF5 matches up vs the WG-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax WG-1

 GF5 WG-1 
LaunchedApril 2012February 2011Fresher by 15 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Panasonic GF5

 WG-1 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax WG-1

 GF5 WG-1 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF5 enjoys external dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax WG-1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax WG-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the GF5 against the WG-1.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and WG-1 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and WG-1.

Clearly, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF5 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax WG-1 will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern GF5 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
55
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
35
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography features
Pentax WG-1 Street photography features
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus via touch
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
54
weather sealing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography info
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography info
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
37
good MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
61
has focus via touch
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
71
weather sealing
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography advice
59
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
42
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good MP (14MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging information
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging information
32
has touchscreen
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic support
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax WG-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2012-04-05 2011-02-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic 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 gr (0.59 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $600 $350