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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Released March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH3
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Later Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-5, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The GH2 was unveiled 4 months later than the K-5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GH2 matches up against the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax K-5

 GH2 K-5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic GH2

 K-5 GH2 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-5

 GH2 K-5 
AnnouncedMarch 2011December 2010Same age
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH2 offers outer measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the GH2 against the K-5.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH2 and K-5 is 70 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The visual here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GH2 and K-5.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The GH2 includes the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow DOF trickier.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
70
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
68
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
46
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (330 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
62
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (330 CIPA)
65
environment proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (330 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 Vlogging highlights
71
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax K-5
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax K-5
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-03-23 2010-12-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 15.60 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 lbs) 740g (1.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 60 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 14.1
DXO Low light score 655 1162
Other
Battery life 330 shots 980 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $1,000 $800