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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH2
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released March 2009
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax P70, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is very close but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The GH1 was announced 5 months after the P70 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the GH1 grades against the P70 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax P70

 GH1 P70 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Panasonic GH1

 P70 GH1 

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax P70

 GH1 P70 
ReleasedJuly 2009March 2009Same age
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH1 has outside measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Pentax P70 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax P70 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the GH1 vs the P70.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH1 and P70 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The image below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and P70.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide the same megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The GH1 includes the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF simpler.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography highlights
Pentax P70 Street photography highlights
72
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than others in class (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Sports photography camera
32
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery (320 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery (320 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
56
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (155g)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax P70 Landscape photography factors
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery (320 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
32
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging information
Pentax P70 Vlogging information
72
selfie friendly screen
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
lack of image stabilization
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
heavier than others in class (155g)
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax P70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax Optio P70
Class Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2009-07-10 2009-03-02
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 18.89 x 14.48mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range - 10cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 1.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.50 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
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
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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lbs) 155 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $949 $200