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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF7
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Older Model is Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF8 was released 13 months later than the K-S2 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the GF8 grades versus the K-S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax K-S2

 GF8 K-S2 
IntroducedFebruary 2016February 2015Fresher by 13 months
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GF8

 K-S2 GF8 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-S2

 GF8 K-S2 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF8 enjoys exterior dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the GF8 versus the K-S2.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and K-S2 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GF8 and K-S2.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF8 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-S2 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent GF8 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography features
65
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
78
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography features
Pentax K-S2 Street photography features
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
72
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
Sports photography with Pentax K-S2
49
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
slow fps (5.8 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
70
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography factors
66
comes with touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
65
environment proof
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography information
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging highlights
33
built-in touchscreen
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone jack
71
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax K-S2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2016-02-15 2015-02-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/6000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames per sec 5.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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) 678 gr (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos 410 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $549 $581