Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax E90: A Hands-On Journey Through Entry-Level Cameras Across a Decade

In the ever-evolving world of digital photography, it’s easy to get swept away by the latest mirrorless marvels or smartphones flaunting “pro-grade” lenses. But sometimes, revisiting cameras from yesteryear offers a grounded perspective on how far tech has come - and whether older models might still hold value for certain shooters. Today, I pit two entry-level cameras against each other from very different eras and categories: the 2013 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 mirrorless and the ultra-budget 2010 Pentax Optio E90 compact.

At a glance, this isn’t a straightforward comparison: the GF6 sports a larger Four Thirds sensor, interchangeable lenses, and a touchscreen, while the E90 is a tiny, fixed-lens shooter with a modest CCD sensor. Yet both aimed at amateur photographers craving simplicity and portability. Having spent long hours with many cameras in between, I’ll walk you through their tech, real-world use, and suitability across photographic disciplines - all seasoned with hard-earned insights and a healthy dash of common sense.

Let’s dive into the battle of specs, usability, image quality, and value while nicely peppering in those nifty comparison images you came for.

First Impressions: Size, Style, and Handling

Before anything else, handling can make or break your enthusiasm for a camera. The Panasonic GF6 arrived well after mirrorless cameras revolutionized compact systems, and its rangefinder-style body reflects that shift.

Compared to the Pentax E90’s pocketable, no-frills compact design, the GF6 is noticeably larger and better suited for deliberate shooting sessions. Measuring approximately 111 x 65 x 38 mm and weighing 323 grams, its grip lends comfort during longer use - essential when you’re balancing an array of Micro Four Thirds lenses. The E90 is smaller and lighter (102 x 59 x 25 mm, 145 grams), excellent for slipping into pockets or casual strolls, but offers limited physical controls.

The GF6 features a tilting 3-inch, 1,040k-dot touchscreen - a welcome evolution for composing shots from creative angles - while the E90 has a fixed 2.7-inch screen with a much lower 230k-dot resolution. Touchscreens have become a standard for quick menu navigation and touch autofocus, and the GF6’s implementation felt responsive during my tests. The E90’s screen was adequate but felt clunky next to the GF6’s.

Looking down from above, the GF6 offers a more modern and streamlined control layout with dedicated exposure modes (P, A, S, M) and a physical dial for ISO. The E90 is basic, lacking manual exposure options or shutter priority. For photographers who want to tinker beyond auto modes, Panasonic’s design is vastly superior and better suiting learning and growth.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The Panasonic GF6 packs a 16MP Four Thirds MOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, while the Pentax E90 uses a much smaller 10MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor at 6.08 x 4.56 mm. Not surprisingly, the GF6 sensor boasts a sensor area roughly eight times larger, which plays a huge role in image quality, dynamic range, and noise handling.

When it comes to real-world shooting, this jump in sensor size and technology is palpable. The GF6’s sensor, paired with Panasonic’s Venus Engine FHD processor, offers a respectable DxOMark color depth of 20.7 bits and dynamic range of 10.6 EV stops. Its low-light ISO sensitivity is good up to about 622 ISO (DxOMark figure), with a maximum native ISO of 12,800 and a boosted ISO of 25,600. The E90, on the other hand, lacks DxOMark scores but, given its sensor size and CCD tech, is limited - especially in dynamic range and noise at anything beyond base ISO 80 or 100. Its max ISO tops out at 3,200 but usable images only start to emerge significantly below that.

Taken in natural light, the GF6 yields punchy skin tones, good detail retention, and well-controlled noise - important when shooting portraits or events indoors. The E90 struggles especially in low light and produces images that can seem flat and washed out under tricky lighting, though daylight shots are acceptable for social sharing or casual use. The anti-aliasing filter on both cameras reduces moiré but at a small cost to ultimate sharpness.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching the Moment

A major difference between these two models is autofocus sophistication.

Despite the GF6’s entry-level status, Panasonic’s system includes contrast-detection AF with touch-to-focus on its LCD, face detection, continuous AF, and tracking AF. Though it lacks phase detection or cross-type points (number of focus points unspecified), its AF speed was decent for its class, focused reliably in good light, and tracked moving subjects competently at moderate speeds. It supports continuous shooting at 4 frames per second - not blazing fast, but suitable for casual wildlife, sports, or kids-in-action shooting.

The E90’s autofocus is simpler: contrast detection on just three focus points, no tracking, no face detection. The motorized zoom and focus are slow by today’s standards and often hunt in low light. Continuous shooting modes are absent, limiting sports or fast-action capture.

While neither camera is a sports photography powerhouse, the GF6’s autofocus noticeably outperformed the E90 in responsiveness and accuracy, especially in live view mode.

Versatility and Lens Ecosystem

The GF6’s Micro Four Thirds mount offers access to an expansive and mature lens ecosystem - arguably the best entry-level system in 2013 and still relevant today. From affordable primes to weather-sealed telephotos and fast zooms, users can pick lenses tailored to portrait, macro, wildlife, or landscape work.

Conversely, the Pentax E90 is a fixed-lens compact with a 32-95mm equivalent zoom (3x optical) and a variable aperture of f/3.1-5.9. While this lens covers useful focal lengths for general shooting, it doesn’t excel at portraits or wildlife due to its limited maximum aperture and reach.

If you value creative control via glass choice, the GF6 wins hands down. The E90 suits shoppers craving an all-in-one casual snapper, particularly for travel or quick street photography.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed or rugged. Both are lightweight and have plastic-heavy constructions designed to keep costs low and portability high. The GF6’s slightly larger, sturdier body inspires more confidence in handling tough shooting conditions, but I wouldn’t test either in rain or dusty environments without protection.

In the lightweight category, the E90’s compact size and low weight offer advantages for unencumbered street or travel shooting.

Display, Viewfinder, and User Interface

Let’s revisit the GF6’s touchscreen benefits alongside the E90’s simplified interface:

The GF6’s 3-inch tilting touchscreen is valuable for composing low or high angle shots, enabling fast AF point selection and intuitive menu navigation. Its interface provides manual exposure, custom white balance, exposure bracketing, and flash control options - critical for learning manual shooting.

The E90’s fixed 2.7-inch screen with low resolution doesn’t support touch. Its menu and controls are extremely basic with no manual or priority exposure modes, limiting creative experimentation. For a beginner or casual shooter who just wants point and shoot, this simplicity may not annoy, but enthusiasts quickly feel constrained.

Battery Life and Storage

The GF6’s rechargeable battery offers an advertised 340 shots per charge, which aligns well with my shooting experience under mixed use - enough for a day trip. The E90 uses 2x AA batteries but lacks official battery life ratings; expect a few hundred shots, but results vary widely depending on battery quality and usage.

Both cameras use a single storage slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC cards - but the E90 also has internal memory of unknown capacity, a modest convenience if you forget your card.

Wireless Connectivity and Extras

Connectivity is a highlight for the GF6. It sports built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing easy remote shooting and wireless image transfer - features largely absent on cameras from its era just a few years earlier.

The E90 has no wireless features or HDMI output, only USB 2.0 for file transfers. For anyone who values sharing images quickly or controlling the camera remotely via smartphone, the GF6 is a clear winner here.

Video Capabilities

Video was becoming increasingly important by 2013, and the GF6 supports Full HD (1920x1080) recording at 30p/60i (NTSC) or 25p/50i (PAL), with both AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. However, it lacks a microphone input or headphone jack, external audio options, and image stabilization at the body level, relying on lens stabilization instead.

The Pentax E90’s video is limited to 720p at 15 frames per second and other low-resolution modes - hardly adequate for serious videography, but acceptable for casual clips.

Neither camera could claim the title of “video powerhouse,” but GF6 offers a far better baseline experience.

Real-World Performance By Photography Genre

So which camera shines where? Here’s a genre-by-genre anecdotal rundown.

Panasonic GF6 front Panasonic GF6 screen back Pentax E90 front Pentax E90 screen back

Portrait Photography

The GF6’s larger sensor and interchangeable lenses easily produce creamy bokeh and natural skin tones. Its face detection autofocus keeps eyes sharp, and manual controls permit refined exposure and white balance adjustment - essential when skin tones matter.

The E90’s small sensor and slower lens limit shallow depth-of-field effects and subtle color transitions, yielding flatter, more snapshot-like portraits.

Landscape Photography

The GF6’s higher dynamic range and 16 megapixels deliver images with richer detail and tonal gradation - vital for landscapes. The extensive lens roster includes wide-angle primes and fisheyes for creative composition.

The E90 is handicapped by its sensor limits and lens range. It can handle casual landscapes but without the subtlety or resolution to satisfy serious landscape shooters.

Wildlife Photography

Neither camera is built for high-speed wildlife capture, but the GF6's faster AF, continuous shooting, and telephoto lens compatibility place it head and shoulders above the E90’s fixed short zoom and slow focusing.

Sports Photography

Again, the GF6 wins given its autofocus modes and decent burst rates, but don’t expect professional-level tracking - it is entry-level, after all. The E90 cannot keep pace with fast action due to autofocus and shooting speed constraints.

Street Photography

The E90’s pocketability and low profile make it an appealing companion for candid street shots and unobtrusive photography. The GF6, while compact for a mirrorless, still commands more presence.

Both perform reasonably in daylight; the GF6’s superior low-light ISO advantages add flexibility for nighttime or indoor street scenes.

Macro Photography

The GF6’s lens ecosystem includes dedicated macro options enabling precise close-up work (focus bracketing not supported though). The E90 can focus to 6cm but lacks stabilization and manual focus, limiting control.

Night and Astrophotography

The GF6’s better sensor and low-light ISO performance give it a fair shot for casual nightscapes or star trails, though noise still grows at high ISO. The E90’s limited ISO ceiling and sensor tech make it a non-starter for astrophotography.

Video Enthusiasts

If you want entry-level HD video with a basic but usable feature set, the GF6 is the only choice here - the E90’s 720p video at 15fps is more of a novelty.

Travel Photography

Both cameras are compact and light enough for travel, but the convenience of lens interchangeability (including a high-quality pancake zoom) on the GF6 broadens your creative toolkit. The E90’s AA battery system can be reassuring if you travel to places without easy recharge access.

Special Considerations for Professionals

Neither camera is a professional tool, but for quick snaps, behind-the-scenes documentation, or secondary camera bodies, the GF6’s raw support, manual modes, and flexible lens options give it a slight edge. The E90’s image quality, limited video, and fixed lens remove it from serious workflows.

Technical Overview: Build, Features, and Ratings

To sum up the technical elements:

The GF6 scores solidly across image quality, autofocus, and usability for its segment. The E90 is more limited but matches expectations for a sub-$100 compact of its time.

Looking across disciplines, the GF6 consistently outperforms the E90, with niche exceptions in absolute portability for street shooters on the go.

Price-to-Performance: What Your Dollars Buy

Currently, the GF6 hovers around $325 used or refurbished; the E90 can be found well below $100 new or used. For casual users on a strict budget wanting a tiny, straightforward camera, the Pentax may fit. But for anyone serious about image quality, creative control, or versatility, the GF6 is a vastly better investment.

The Final Countdown: Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose the Panasonic GF6 if:

  • You want a genuine mirrorless experience with interchangeable lenses.
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, or travel and crave image quality.
  • You need Wi-Fi connectivity and advanced exposure controls.
  • You are happy with a slightly larger, but still compact system.
  • You want basic Full HD video options.

• Choose the Pentax E90 if:

  • You want the smallest, most pocketable camera at the lowest cost.
  • Your photography is casual snapshots in bright conditions.
  • You prefer AA batteries for travel convenience.
  • You want a simple point-and-shoot with minimal fuss.

Wrapping Up: Experience and Expertise Matter

From my experience testing countless cameras, I can say the Panasonic GF6 stands the test of time better in terms of raw capability and versatility. It’s not perfect - low light autofocus sometimes lags, and no image stabilization on the body demands suitable lenses - but it’s a genuinely useful creative tool for beginners and hobbyists. Meanwhile, the Pentax E90 holds nostalgic appeal for those who want quick, pocket-ready snaps without complexity.

If you’re considering one of these, weigh your priorities carefully: portability and cost versus performance and flexibility. Your photography goals will steer you right. Whatever you pick, remember that the camera is just the beginning - your vision and practice make truly great images.

Happy shooting!

Disclaimer: Specifications and insights are based on extensive hands-on testing and analysis over the years, acknowledging the strengths and limitations inherent to older generation equipment.