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Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
66
Overall
58
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF6
  • New Model is Panasonic GF8
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF7 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively similar but the GF7 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GF7 was released 15 months after the K-500 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GF7 grades versus the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Pentax K-500

 GF7 K-500 
IntroducedFebruary 2015November 2013Newer by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GF7

 K-500 GF7 

Common features in the Panasonic GF7 and Pentax K-500

 GF7 K-500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF7 has exterior measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the GF7 against the K-500.

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GF7 and K-500 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by going over a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF7 and K-500.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The GF7 has got the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more recent GF7 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
65
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Street photography advice
Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (230 shots)
no phase detect AF
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF7
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
70
features touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
better than average battery life (710 shots)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF7
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
69
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no mic port
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Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF7 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 Pentax K-500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2015-02-01 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 51600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 266g (0.59 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 230 shots 710 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $308 $600