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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF6
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed January 2006
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax ist DL2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The GF5 was announced 6 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a short introduction of how the GF5 scores versus the ist DL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax ist DL2

 GF5 ist DL2 
RevealedApril 2012January 2006More recent by 76 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k210kClearer display (+710k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic GF5

 ist DL2 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax ist DL2

 GF5 ist DL2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF5 features exterior dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax ist DL2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the GF5 versus the ist DL2.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and ist DL2 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and ist DL2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF5 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic GF5 will show extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher GF5 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography info
55
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
50
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography information
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (565g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography features
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
61
features focus by touch
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than others in class (565g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography advice
59
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
46
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen enabled
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone port
22
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low ( pxls)
no microphone socket
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax ist DL2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-04-05 2006-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 160 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 5
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 920k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267g (0.59 lbs) 565g (1.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 65
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 11.1
DXO Low light score 573 639
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 -