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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH2
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
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-S2, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GH1 was launched 6 years before the K-S2 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GH1 scores versus the K-S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax K-S2

 GH1 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GH1

 K-S2 GH1 
IntroducedFebruary 2015July 2009More modern by 68 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-S2

 GH1 K-S2 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH1 comes with outside measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the GH1 against the K-S2.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GH1 and K-S2 is 81 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specs. The pic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and K-S2.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GH1 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Pentax K-S2 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged GH1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography highlights
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
78
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
72
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than others in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Sports photography camera
32
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (320 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
70
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
low battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (320 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
65
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
low battery (410 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (320 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
low battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging information
72
selfie friendly display
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
71
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (678 grams)
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax K-S2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-07-10 2015-02-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact 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
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 1.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lb) 678 gr (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos 410 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $949 $581