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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Introduced March 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Successor is Panasonic GH3
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GH2 versus Pentax K-500, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty close but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GH2 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the K-500 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GH2 matches up against the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax K-500

 GH2 K-500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GH2

 K-500 GH2 
RevealedNovember 2013March 2011Fresher by 32 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-500

 GH2 K-500 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH2 comes with physical 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-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH2 versus Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the GH2 against the K-500.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GH2 and K-500 is 70 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GH2 and K-500.

Clearly, each of the cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The GH2 contains the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The older GH2 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography details
70
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH2
Street photography with Pentax K-500
68
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
46
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
good battery pack (710 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
62
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
67
good battery pack (710 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (330 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
no image stabilization
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax K-500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-23 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 51600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 gr (0.97 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 60 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 655 1087
Other
Battery life 330 images 710 images
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,000 $600