Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax K20D

Below is a extended comparison of the Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax K20D, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GM1 (16MP) and the K20D (15MP) is very comparable but the GM1 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The GM1 was manufactured 5 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the GM1 scores against the K20D for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 and Pentax K20D. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic GM1 Gallery and Pentax K20D Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GM1 features outside dimensions of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Pentax K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax K20D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the GM1 and the K20D.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GM1 and K20D is 93 and 59 respectively.

Often, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by going through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GM1 and K20D.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GM1 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic GM1 will provide extra detail due to its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern GM1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.