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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 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
  • Released July 2009
  • Updated by Panasonic GH2
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Introduced September 2009
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax E85, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the E85 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and E85 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GH1 was manufactured 2 months prior to the E85 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E85 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the GH1 matches up versus the E85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax E85

 GH1 E85 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Panasonic GH1

 E85 GH1 

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax E85

 GH1 E85 
IntroducedJuly 2009September 2009Same age
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH1 has got 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 E85 has sizing of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax E85 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the GH1 versus the E85.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and E85 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing technical specs. The picture underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and E85.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The GH1 features the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF easier.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax E85 Portrait photography highlights
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Street photography camera
72
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography information
Pentax E85 Sports photography information
32
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (320 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
17
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography factors
Pentax E85 Travel photography factors
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (320 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography info
Pentax E85 Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (320 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
23
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH1
Vlogging with Pentax E85
72
selfie friendly display
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
no image stabilization
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax E85
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax Optio E85
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax Optio E85
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-07-10 2009-09-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 18.89 x 14.48mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-96mm (3.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 1.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 gr (0.85 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $949 $0