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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH5
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced December 2009
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-x, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the GH4 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the GH4 (Four Thirds) and K-x (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The GH4 was launched 4 years after the K-x which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GH4 scores versus the K-x in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax K-x

 GH4 K-x 
IntroducedFebruary 2014December 2009Newer by 51 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kCrisper display (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic GH4

 K-x GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-x

 GH4 K-x 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH4 enjoys outer measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the GH4 and the K-x.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the GH4 and K-x is 66 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GH4 and K-x.

As you can see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GH4 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic GH4 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger GH4 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-x Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH4
Street photography with Pentax K-x
71
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than others (560g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Sports photography camera
62
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
61
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery power (1,900 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-x Travel photography factors
77
lighter than others (560g)
environment sealing
provides touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
54
better than average battery power (1,900 per charge)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-x Landscape photography information
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (1,900 shots)
small screen (2.7")
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging information
Pentax K-x Vlogging information
71
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
provides face detect focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone socket
lighter than others (560g)
does not have image stabilization
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax K-x
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Pentax K-x
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-02-07 2009-12-23
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IX Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
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 Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,036 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology OLED TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 16.00 m
Flash modes Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560g (1.23 pounds) 580g (1.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 72
DXO Color Depth score 23.2 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 12.5
DXO Low light score 791 811
Other
Battery life 500 photos 1900 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,500 $600