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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF7
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-7
  • New Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax K-5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The GF8 was brought out 5 years later than the K-5 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GF8 grades versus the K-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax K-5

 GF8 K-5 
LaunchedFebruary 2016December 2010More recent by 63 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GF8

 K-5 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-5

 GF8 K-5 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GF8 offers outer dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the GF8 and the K-5.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and K-5 is 90 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF8 and K-5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature the identical MP albeit different sensor measurements. The GF8 uses the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF harder. The fresher GF8 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
65
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
73
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF8
Street photography with Pentax K-5
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
49
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (5.8 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (230 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
66
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery life (230 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
65
environment sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
33
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax K-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2016-02-15 2010-12-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/8000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266g (0.59 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $549 $800