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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH3
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Launched June 2011
  • Successor is Pentax Q10
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the GH2 (16MP) and Q (12MP) and the GH2 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The GH2 was introduced 3 months before the Q so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the GH2 matches up against the Q for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax Q

 GH2 Q 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Panasonic GH2

 Q GH2 

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax Q

 GH2 Q 
LaunchedMarch 2011June 2011Same age
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH2 features external dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Pentax Q has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the GH2 versus the Q.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GH2 and Q is 70 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specs. The graphic here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH2 and Q.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH2 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic GH2 will produce extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
Portrait photography with Pentax Q
70
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
45
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography advice
Pentax Q Street photography advice
68
screen articulates fully
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH2
Sports photography with Pentax Q
46
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH2
Travel photography with Pentax Q
62
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
57
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax Q Landscape photography highlights
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (330 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
51
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q Vlogging factors
71
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
lack of image stabilization
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic socket
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax Q
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax Q
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax Q
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-03-23 2011-06-23
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 107 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 grams (0.97 lb) 180 grams (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 60 47
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 11.1
DXO Low light rating 655 189
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 230 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $1,000 $695