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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Released March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Successor is Panasonic GH3
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-S2, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is pretty comparable but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The GH2 was unveiled 4 years before the K-S2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the GH2 grades versus the K-S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax K-S2

 GH2 K-S2 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GH2

 K-S2 GH2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015March 2011Fresher by 47 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-S2

 GH2 K-S2 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH2 features outside 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-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the GH2 against the K-S2.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GH2 and K-S2 is 70 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GH2 and K-S2.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH2 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will produce greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older GH2 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography highlights
70
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
78
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography information
Pentax K-S2 Street photography information
68
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than others (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography information
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography information
46
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (330 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography factors
62
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (330 shots)
65
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
heavier than others (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography details
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery life (330 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging info
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging info
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone port
no image stabilization
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic jack
heavier than others (678 grams)
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax K-S2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-03-23 2015-02-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact 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 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 15.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442 grams (0.97 lbs) 678 grams (1.49 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,000 $581