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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax RS1500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is pretty close but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The GF8 was brought out 4 years after the RS1500 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the GF8 matches up vs the RS1500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax RS1500

 GF8 RS1500 
LaunchedFebruary 2016March 2011Newer by 60 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic GF8

 RS1500 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax RS1500

 GF8 RS1500 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account 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 RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the GF8 compared to the RS1500.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and RS1500 is 90 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF8 and RS1500.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF8 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic GF8 will render more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher GF8 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography factors
65
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
54
environment sealing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography advice
49
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
max frames per second very slow (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (230 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
37
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography features
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography features
66
offers touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (230 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
environment sealing
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (230 shots)
no Timelapse mode
40
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
MP count good (14MP)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging features
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
33
screen is touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone support
25
decently wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-02-15 2011-03-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/1500 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 3.90 m
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, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266g (0.59 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images 260 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $549 $150