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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH5
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released August 2005
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the GH4 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the GH4 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The GH4 was manufactured 8 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the GH4 matches up against the ist DS2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax ist DS2

 GH4 ist DS2 
ReleasedFebruary 2014August 2005More recent by 104 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1036k210kClearer screen (+826k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic GH4

 ist DS2 GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax ist DS2

 GH4 ist DS2 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH4 comes with outside dimensions 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 ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GH4 and the ist DS2.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH4 and ist DS2 is 66 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH4 and ist DS2.

Clearly, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH4 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GH4 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern GH4 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
50
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
71
fully articulated screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than average (560 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
62
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography highlights
77
lighter than average (560g)
weather sealing
comes with touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
52
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography information
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH4
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone port
lighter than average (560 grams)
lack of image stabilization
22
lighter than average in class (605g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great ( pixels)
no mic port
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Pentax ist DS2
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-02-07 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IX -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 1,036k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 200) -
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 reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) -
Max video resolution 4096x2160 -
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 grams (1.23 pounds) 605 grams (1.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
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 photographs -
Style of battery 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $1,500 -