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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 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
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH3
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-S2
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1, former is 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-S1 (20MP) is pretty comparable but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GH2 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-S1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the GH2 grades against the K-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax K-S1

 GH2 K-S1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic GH2

 K-S1 GH2 
RevealedAugust 2014March 2011Newer by 41 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-S1

 GH2 K-S1 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GH2 enjoys outside dimensions 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-S1 has specifications of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the GH2 versus the K-S1.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and K-S1 is 70 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing technical specs. The picture here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH2 and K-S1.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GH2 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S1 will produce greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged GH2 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography details
70
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH2
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
68
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography information
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography information
46
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (330 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.4 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography information
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography information
62
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (330 CIPA)
60
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography information
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery (330 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging information
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic port
lack of image stabilization
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (558g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic jack
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax K-S1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-03-23 2014-08-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 51200
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
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 23 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 15.60 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 442 gr (0.97 lb) 558 gr (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 60 78
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 13.0
DXO Low light score 655 1061
Other
Battery life 330 photos 410 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $1,000 $339