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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 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
  • Released February 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH5
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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-S2
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax K-S1

 GH4 K-S1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1036k921kSharper 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 
LaunchedFebruary 2014August 2014Same generation
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
77
manual focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH4
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
71
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
environment proofing
lighter than competition (560 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
above average high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography details
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography details
62
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
69
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.4 frames per second)
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography factors
77
lighter than competition (560g)
environment proofing
includes focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH4
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
low battery pack (410 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging info
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging info
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has microphone socket
lighter than competition (560g)
does not have image stabilization
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax 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