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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH1
  • Successor is Panasonic GH3
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Later Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the GH2 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GH2 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The GH2 was revealed 5 years prior to the K-1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the GH2 matches up against the K-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax K-1

 GH2 K-1 
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GH2

 K-1 GH2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016March 2011Fresher by 59 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-1

 GH2 K-1 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH2 enjoys exterior measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the GH2 against the K-1.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and K-1 is 70 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The photograph here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GH2 and K-1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH2 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-1 will produce greater detail because of its extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older GH2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography features
70
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
85
has manual focus
excellent megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography info
Pentax K-1 Street photography info
68
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
70
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH2
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
46
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low battery pack (330 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.4 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 Travel photography info
62
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (330 CIPA)
53
environment sealing
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (760 shots)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low battery pack (330 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
81
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-1 Vlogging highlights
71
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone jack
no image stabilization
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax K-1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-03-23 2016-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 12800 204800
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 15.60 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 lbs) 1010g (2.23 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 60 96
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 14.6
DXO Low light score 655 3280
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 760 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 Dual
Launch cost $1,000 $1,499