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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH2
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The GH1 was released 7 years earlier than the K-1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the GH1 scores versus the K-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax K-1

 GH1 K-1 
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GH1

 K-1 GH1 
IntroducedFebruary 2016July 2009Newer by 80 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-1

 GH1 K-1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH1 offers outer measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the GH1 and the K-1.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the GH1 and K-1 is 81 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The pic below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GH1 and K-1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GH1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-1 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged GH1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
85
focusing manually
MP count great (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography features
Pentax K-1 Street photography features
72
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
70
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
great high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH1
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
33
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (320 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count great (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
not so great battery pack (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-1 Travel photography details
58
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (320 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
53
weather proofing
MP count great (36MP)
not so great battery pack (760 per charge)
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
81
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count great (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
not so great battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
72
selfie friendly screen
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
lack of image stabilization
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax K-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax K-1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-10 2016-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 18.89 x 14.48mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 273.5mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 1600 204800
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 1.9 1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 gr (0.85 pounds) 1010 gr (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 64 96
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 14.6
DXO Low light rating 772 3280
Other
Battery life 320 images 760 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One 2
Pricing at release $949 $1,499