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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF7
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is very similar but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The GF8 was released 2 years later than the K-5 IIs and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the GF8 scores vs the K-5 IIs in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 GF8 K-5 IIs 
LaunchedFebruary 2016June 2013Fresher by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic GF8

 K-5 IIs GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 GF8 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GF8 has got 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 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax K-5 IIs 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 during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the GF8 against the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and K-5 IIs is 90 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF8 and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The GF8 features the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF more challenging. The younger GF8 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography info
65
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography information
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography factors
49
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
max frames per second very slow (5.8 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF8
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
66
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
environment proof
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging info
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging info
33
touch screen
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external mic jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2016-02-15 2013-06-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/500s 1/8000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 13.00 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, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 266 gr (0.59 pounds) 760 gr (1.68 pounds)
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 All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1208
Other
Battery life 230 photos 980 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $549 $749