Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax KP: An Expert Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right camera can be a daunting task - especially when you’re comparing two very different beasts like the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the Pentax KP. One is a versatile Micro Four Thirds mirrorless workhorse aimed at videographers and photographers who want cutting-edge video with solid still image quality. The other is a rugged, high-resolution APS-C DSLR that caters to enthusiast photographers seeking robust build quality and excellent still-image performance.

Having extensively tested both cameras in the field over the years, I want to share practical, down-to-earth insights into how each performs across a broad spectrum of photography disciplines - from landscapes and portraits to wildlife and night shots. If you’re serious about making an informed buy, this is your go-to guide.

Let’s start by setting the stage with how these cameras stack up physically.

Body and Ergonomics: Grip and Feel That Influence Every Shoot

When you pick up the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax KP side by side, you immediately notice their different philosophies. The GH4 sports a classic SLR-style mirrorless design with a relatively compact yet firm grip, weighing 560g. It feels balanced and is surprisingly ergonomic for extended handheld video shoots or lengthy photography sessions. The fully articulating 3-inch OLED touchscreen (discussed in detail later) makes vlogging or creative angles easier - something I really appreciate during run-and-gun shoots.

On the other hand, the Pentax KP, at 703g and marginally larger dimensions, feels more substantial and traditional in the hand, typical of DSLRs. Its matte, rubberized coating offers excellent grip security, especially in adverse weather where it claims weather sealing (more on that later). For pure image capture, especially in brisk outdoor conditions, I found the KP's heft reassuring without being tiring.

The outright compactness of the GH4 helps street photographers or travel shooters who need light packing, while the KP’s size benefits those who prefer a solid, “camera-in-hand” feel for careful composed work. Ergonomics-wise, the GH4’s touchscreen interface and configurable buttons give it an edge for quick access, though Pentax’s well-spaced controls and dedicated dials reward photographers who like tactile control.

If physical size and user interface matter a lot to you, this side-by-side comparison clarifies the trade-offs.

Design and Controls Up Close: Layouts That Shape Your Workflow

Looking down at the top plate reveals each camera’s approach to handling essential controls. The GH4 comes with streamlined dials for exposure mode, shutter speed, and a custom function button cluster reminding me of Panasonic’s video-centric heritage. While not as tactile as a DSLR, I find the GH4 easy to operate in fast-paced shooting situations, especially when paired with the touchscreen.

Conversely, the Pentax KP embraces DSLR convention with its mode dial, ISO dial, and shutter speed dial, plus an exposure compensation dial - a joy for photographers who enjoy a purely manual approach. Notably, the KP has customizable function buttons, and uses a traditional command dial layout, which I found superbly intuitive.

This layout difference extends into live view and autofocus operation: the GH4 offers continuous autofocus with face detection and touch AF, ideal for video and casual shooting. The KP relies on a contrast-detection system with 27 focus points and face detection but no touch AF, which can be slower but precise once locked.

In sum, your choice here mostly depends on whether tactile DSLR controls or touchscreen-based mirrorless workflows better suit your style.

Sensor Technology: Image Quality Foundations and Photo Potential

Here’s where the story really diverges. The GH4 uses a 16MP Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm - significantly smaller than the KP’s 24MP APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm). This difference in sensor size plays a pivotal role in image quality, dynamic range, and noise performance.

The GH4’s 16MP sensor delivers punchy color with good depth and can push ISO up to 25,600, although practical noise-free results are usually up to ISO 3200. The Ks smaller sensor also means a 2.1x crop factor, ideal for telephoto reach, especially for wildlife or sports shooters on a budget.

In contrast, the KP’s APS-C sensor has a 1.5x crop factor and a higher resolution of 24MP. It effectively captures finer detail, outperforms in low-light ISO (with a max native ISO essentially topping at 819,200, though practically much lower), and boasts excellent dynamic range. The KP also includes an optical low-pass filter to ensure sharp images with reduced moiré artifacts.

From my hands-on tests, landscapes and studio portraits taken with the KP show noticeably better detail and tonality, thanks to the sensor’s size and resolution advantage. Meanwhile, the GH4 excels when you need lightweight gear with respectable quality, especially coupled with Panasonic’s processing.

LCDs and Viewfinders: How You See Your Shots Matters

The GH4’s fully articulating 3-inch OLED touchscreen is a big selling point - bright, color-accurate, and offering touch gestures to quickly change focus points or navigate menus. I found this especially useful for shooting video or vlogging, where you often need flexible angles and quick touch AF.

Meanwhile, the KP opts for a 3-inch tilting LCD with 921K-dot resolution, no touchscreen. It’s sharp and excellent for composing shots from high or low angles, but slower to navigate settings on the fly. The lack of touch interface is a mild letdown compared to newer mirrorless designs but isn’t a deal breaker for DSLR purists.

Viewfinder-wise, the GH4 uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36M-dot resolution - vivid and detailed, but with the occasional lag some EVFs have, especially in dimmer lighting. The KP features an optical pentaprism viewfinder, glaringly clear and with 100% coverage, which DSLRs still own hands-down for eye comfort and real-time response.

One note from experience: when shooting action or in bright sunlight, the KP's optical finder feels more natural and fatigue-free. But if you often review settings or need focus peaking overlays, the GH4’s EVF gives you more info at a glance.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking Performance in the Real World

The GH4 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 49 points and features face detection and continuous AF modes that work well for video and stills. However, its autofocus isn’t as lightning-fast or as reliable in low light compared to phase detection systems.

The Pentax KP features a 27-point phase-detection autofocus system (25 cross-type points), generally faster and more consistent at locking focus in tricky lighting or for moving subjects. Its built-in stabilization also helps maintain sharpness during autofocus microadjustments.

When photographing wildlife and sports, autofocus speed and tracking are paramount. In tests, the KP outperforms the GH4 in tracking fast-moving subjects accurately, despite its lower burst rate (7 fps vs GH4’s 12 fps). The GH4’s faster frame rate is enticing, but focus lag can result in missed critical moments.

For portraits and studio work, both cameras have face detection, but the GH4’s touchscreen AF allows quicker interactive focus selection - great for novice photographers or video-centric users.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Performance: Capturing the Decisive Moment

The GH4 shoots at an impressive 12 fps in continuous burst mode, making it tempting for sports and wildlife shooters. The downside? The buffer depth is limited, and after a short burst, you may experience slowdowns while writing to the SD card.

In contrast, the KP’s 7 fps may sound pedestrian, but its more robust autofocus and larger buffer helps you capture longer sequences without interruption. For photojournalists or those who want reliability under pressure, the KP’s real-world shooting is often less frustrating.

Still Image Quality Performance: Portraits, Landscapes, Macro, and Low-Light Shots

Panasonic GH4 front Panasonic GH4 screen back Pentax KP front Pentax KP screen back

In terms of raw still image quality, the KP’s sensor delivers superior detail and better tonal gradation across skin tones and shadows. This makes it excellent for studio portraits or landscapes where dynamic range and color fidelity are critical.

The GH4’s 16MP images are respectable but can’t match the KP’s resolution or noise handling, especially beyond ISO 3200, making it less suitable for demanding portrait or low-light landscape work.

For macro photography, neither camera includes sensor-based focus stacking, but the KP offers focus bracketing - a handy feature for capturing sharp detail in close-up subjects.

Video Capabilities: GH4’s Strength vs KP’s Entry-Level Video

Video is where the GH4 truly shines. It was a trailblazer in the 4K video market back in 2014, offering 4K UHD and even 4K Cinema resolution (up to 4096x2160 at 24p), multiple codec options (MPEG-4, AVCHD), and options for external microphone and headphone ports for professional audio monitoring.

The KP, by comparison, maxes out at 1080p Full HD at 60i/30p with only basic MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs and lacks headphone monitoring. If video is a priority, the GH4 is the clear winner. The GH4 also supports 4K Photo mode, capturing 8MP stills from video frames, useful for action photographers.

Video stabilization is absent in the GH4 body but can be leveraged via compatible lenses, while the KP has built-in 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization benefiting both stills and video - but video quality is still limited by resolution.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Both Cameras Can Handle the Rough Stuff

Both the GH4 and KP feature environmental sealing. The GH4 includes dust and splash resistance (though not freezeproof, shockproof, or crushproof), and the KP similarly offers weather sealing with resistance to dust and moisture - a big plus for outdoor enthusiasts.

The KP’s solid metal body gives it a slightly tougher feel overall, making it better suited for rough climates. The GH4’s mirrorless design means fewer moving parts, which can be beneficial, but the GH4’s weatherproofing is slightly less extensive in my experience.

Battery Life and Storage: Going the Distance vs Practical Realities

Battery life is a crucial but often overlooked factor. The GH4 offers about 500 shots per charge, excellent for a mirrorless system of its era, while the KP clocks in at approximately 390 shots. If you shoot a lot of video, the GH4’s larger battery life and efficient power management make a big difference during extended sessions.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot supporting SDHC and SDXC cards. The GH4 supports UHS-I and UHS-II cards (depending on model revisions), which facilitates faster write speeds, especially needed for 4K video. The KP supports UHS-I but no UHS-II.

Lens Ecosystem: Micro Four Thirds vs Pentax K Mount Choices

With the GH4, you tap into the Micro Four Thirds system, which boasts a vast, mature lens lineup from Panasonic, Olympus, and third-party manufacturers. This gives you 107 lenses, including fast primes, ultra-zoom zooms, and many compact options suitable for travel or video.

The KP shoots with Pentax’s KAF2 mount, with over 151 lenses available - an extensive collection that includes classic lenses alongside modern optics. Many older Pentax lenses can fit with adapters, adding vintage charm or unique rendering.

If lens variety and ability to shop across various brands matter, both platforms have tremendous options; however, GH4’s smaller sensor lenses tend to be more compact. The KP benefits from rugged, weather-sealed prime lenses designed for professional use.

Connectivity and Extras: Handling Data and Wireless Convenience

Both cameras come with built-in Wi-Fi for remote control and image transfer, but neither offers Bluetooth or NFC - somewhat behind modern connectivity trends.

The GH4 includes a micro-HDMI port for external monitor or recorder connection and headphone/mic jacks for audio monitoring - crucial for serious videographers.

The KP lacks an HDMI port and headphone output but includes a microphone port, plus optional GPS module support - a boon for travel and landscape photographers who need geo-tagging.

Price-to-Performance: Which Camera Brings You Better Value?

At around $1499 (body only), the GH4 sits higher in price than the Pentax KP, which retails near $747. That’s roughly double the KP’s cost.

However, remember the GH4 packs high-end 4K video plus versatile articulating screen and faster continuous shooting, which for many justify the premium.

The KP, meanwhile, delivers larger sensor quality, rugged build, and excellent autofocus at a very attractive price - ideal for photographers prioritizing stills quality over video.

Specialty Photography Scenarios: Which Camera Fits Your Passion?

To make this really practical, here’s how both cameras fare across photography genres based on my fieldwork:

• Portraits: KP wins on image quality and skin tones, with excellent lens selection. GH4’s fast AF works well but sensor size limits background blur.

• Landscape: KP’s sensor size and dynamic range produce richer details. Weather sealing favors the KP in harsh environments.

• Wildlife: GH4’s 12 fps continuous and 2.1x crop make telephoto lenses affordable; autofocus less snappy. KP’s AF faster but lower fps.

• Sports: GH4’s higher fps is tempting, but KP’s more reliable tracking might win in complex scenarios.

• Street: GH4’s compact size and silent shutter appeal for discreet shooting.

• Macro: KP’s focus bracketing edge; GH4’s articulating screen helps composition.

• Night/Astro: KP’s lower noise at very high ISO is better. GH4 can shoot long exposure but noise is more noticeable.

• Video: GH4 is a pro-level tool; KP limited to basic Full HD.

• Travel: GH4’s size, versatility in video/stills, and battery life suit travelers. KP packs better image quality but sacrifices compactness.

• Professional work: KP’s IPS build, ruggedness, and file quality edge out, except when video is critical.

See consolidated performance scores below for a quick snapshot.

For genre-specific strengths, this graphic spotlights where each camera shines.

Wrap-Up Recommendations: Which Camera Should You Pick?

Both the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax KP are excellent cameras, but your priorities will steer your choice.

• Choose the GH4 if: You’re a hybrid shooter focused on 4K video production with solid still capabilities, want a compact, lightweight form factor, value articulating touchscreen and fast continuous shooting for action, or need pro video features on a mid-budget.

• Choose the KP if: You primarily shoot still photographs and want superior image quality, especially in portraits and landscapes; prioritize solid build and weather sealing; want high-ISO performance for night photography; or operate on a tighter budget but need DSLR reliability and lens flexibility.

In my experience with hands-on shooting, if video matters even slightly, the GH4 easily justifies its higher price and moderate sensor resolution. However, for pure image quality, durability, and still-focused shooting, the KP remains an understated gem.

If you want to see my full GH4 video review or in-depth KP landscape gallery, let me know - there’s always more to explore when you get truly hands-on.

Happy shooting!