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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Successor is Panasonic GH5
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Updated by Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the GH4 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GH4 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) posses different sensor sizing.

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The GH4 was introduced 24 months before the K-1 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the GH4 matches up versus the K-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax K-1

 GH4 K-1 
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GH4

 K-1 GH4 
IntroducedFebruary 2016February 2014More recent by 24 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k1036kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-1

 GH4 K-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH4 features outer measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") along with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the GH4 versus the K-1.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the GH4 and K-1 is 66 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GH4 and K-1.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH4 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will provide more detail using its extra 20MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older GH4 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
85
manual focus
MP count excellent (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Street photography factors
Pentax K-1 Street photography factors
71
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than others (560 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
good ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than others (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-1 Sports photography factors
62
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count excellent (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
terrible battery (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH4
Travel photography with Pentax K-1
77
lighter than others (560 grams)
weather proof
supports focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
53
environment sealing
MP count excellent (36 megapixels)
terrible battery (760 CIPA)
more heavy than others (1,010g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH4
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count excellent (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging features
Pentax K-1 Vlogging features
71
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
features face detect focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
lighter than others (560g)
lack of image stabilization
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others (1,010g)
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax K-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Pentax K-1
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-02-07 2016-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IX -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 25600 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 1,036 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 4.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560g (1.23 lbs) 1010g (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 96
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 14.6
DXO Low light rating 791 3280
Other
Battery life 500 shots 760 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Single Dual
Price at launch $1,500 $1,499