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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH5
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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic GH4 versus Pentax K-S2, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is pretty close but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH4 was manufactured 12 months before the K-S2 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the GH4 grades versus the K-S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax K-S2

 GH4 K-S2 
Screen resolution1036k921kCrisper screen (+115k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GH4

 K-S2 GH4 
ReleasedFebruary 2015February 2014Newer by 12 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-S2

 GH4 K-S2 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH4 offers exterior measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH4 versus Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the GH4 versus the K-S2.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GH4 and K-S2 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The image here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH4 and K-S2.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GH4 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-S2 will render extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GH4 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
78
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than competitors (560g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
heavier than competition (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography factors
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
bad battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH4
Travel photography with Pentax K-S2
77
lighter than competitors (560 grams)
environment proof
comes with focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
65
weather sealing
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
bad battery (410 shots)
heavier than competition (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography info
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging info
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging info
71
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic socket
lighter than competitors (560g)
lack of image stabilization
71
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
heavier than competition (678 grams)
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Pentax K-S2
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2014-02-07 2015-02-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact 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 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,036k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 grams (1.23 lb) 678 grams (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 791 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images 410 images
Form 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 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $1,500 $581