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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand 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-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-S2
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The GH1 was introduced 6 years earlier than the K-S1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the GH1 matches up versus the K-S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax K-S1

 GH1 K-S1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic GH1

 K-S1 GH1 
ReleasedAugust 2014July 2009More recent by 62 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-S1

 GH1 K-S1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH1 offers physical dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S1 has proportions of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the GH1 versus the K-S1.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH1 and K-S1 is 81 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH1 and K-S1.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH1 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-S1 will deliver more detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older GH1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography features
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH1
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
72
screen articulates
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others (558g)
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH1
Sports photography with Pentax K-S1
32
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
has no phase detect AF
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography details
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (320 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
60
lighter than others (558 grams)
resolution is good (20MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (410 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging advice
72
selfie friendly screen
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
does not have image stabilization
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (558g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax K-S1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-10 2014-08-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 18.89 x 14.48mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 1.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lb) 558 grams (1.23 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 64 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 13.0
DXO Low light rating 772 1061
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 410 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $949 $339