Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1
66 Imaging
53 Features
88 Overall
67


69 Imaging
63 Features
70 Overall
65
Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs
(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
- Released February 2014
- Old Model is Panasonic GH3
- Renewed by Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/6000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
- Launched August 2014
- Successor is Pentax K-S2

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview
Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is pretty close but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

The GH4 was unveiled 6 months prior to the K-S1 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summary of how the GH4 matches up against the K-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Pentax K-S1. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GH4 Gallery and Pentax K-S1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax K-S1
GH4 | K-S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Screen resolution | 1036k | ![]() | 921k | Sharper screen (+115k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Panasonic GH4
K-S1 | GH4 |
---|
Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-S1
GH4 | K-S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2014 | ![]() | August 2014 | Same generation |
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen sizing |
Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison
If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH4 has outer dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has dimensions of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).
See the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the GH4 vs the K-S1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH4 and K-S1 is 66 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The photograph below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH4 and K-S1.
As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH4 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-S1 will result in greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 | Pentax K-S1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Panasonic | Pentax |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 | Pentax K-S1 |
Category | Pro Mirrorless | Advanced DSLR |
Released | 2014-02-07 | 2014-08-27 |
Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Venus Engine IX | Prime MII |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor 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 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 5472 x 3648 |
Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 51200 |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 49 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
Amount of lenses | 107 | 151 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Screen resolution | 1,036 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen technology | OLED | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,359 thousand dots | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.67x | 0.64x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/6000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 12.0 frames/s | 5.4 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 17.00 m (at ISO 200) | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off | Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | 1/250 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 4096x2160 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | H.264 |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 560 gr (1.23 lb) | 558 gr (1.23 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") | 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 74 | 78 |
DXO Color Depth score | 23.2 | 23.5 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.8 | 13.0 |
DXO Low light score | 791 | 1061 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 500 photographs | 410 photographs |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | DMW-BLF19 | D-LI109 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch cost | $1,500 | $339 |