Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax K20D

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K20D, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the K20D (15MP) is pretty close but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH1 was manufactured 13 months later than the K20D which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the GH1 scores vs the K20D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 & Pentax K20D. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic GH1 Gallery & Pentax K20D Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GH1 comes with physical measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax K20D in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the GH1 against the K20D.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the GH1 and K20D is 81 and 59 respectively.

Often, it's hard to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH1 and K20D.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH1 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K20D will result in extra detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The newer GH1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.