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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH5
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic GH4 versus Pentax RS1500, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively similar but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The GH4 was introduced 2 years after the RS1500 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the GH4 grades versus the RS1500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax RS1500

 GH4 RS1500 
ReleasedFebruary 2014March 2011More modern by 36 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kClearer screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic GH4

 RS1500 GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax RS1500

 GH4 RS1500 
Focus manually More precise focus

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH4 enjoys outside measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH4 versus Pentax RS1500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the GH4 versus the RS1500.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GH4 and RS1500 is 66 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing specs. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GH4 and RS1500.

All in all, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GH4 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic GH4 will offer you extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The newer GH4 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH4
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
35
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
71
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than competition (560 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
54
environment proof
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography advice
62
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
37
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography factors
77
lighter than competition (560 grams)
environment sealing
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
67
environment proof
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
no image stabilization
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging highlights
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging highlights
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has face detection focus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic port
lighter than competition (560 grams)
no image stabilization
25
rather wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-02-07 2011-03-16
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IX -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,036k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech OLED TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560 gr (1.23 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 791 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photos 260 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $1,500 $150